Have you seen the infamous juke joint dance scene in Sinners yet? It is easily one of the most musically transcendent scenes displayed on screen. In addition to the amazing casting, beautiful writing, and stunning cinematography, the sound production is the biggest highlight of the film. Music and sound are incorporated from the start to the end of Sinners, making it feel like an orchestral musical horror movie. The overall music score, sound mixing, and sound effects are used effectively throughout the film to elevate the story.
Various characters throughout Sinners utilize humming, which acts as a vehicle to express their emotions. In the scene where Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) is driving with Sammie (Miles Caton) and Stack (Michael B Jordan), he explains to them the harrowing story of how the KKK took his friend’s life. Sinners brilliantly employs background dialogue and sound effects to reenact the horrifying incident, all while you remain engaged in the present moment. You are subtly able to hear the sound of a rope tightening, indicating that a man is getting lynched. The recollection is emotionally unbearable for Delta Slim, prompting him to hum mournfully to release the pain. Viewers have pointed out how Sinners uses this as an effective storytelling tool when conveying a traumatic incident, as opposed to visibly showing the violence.
In the scene where Annie (Wunmi Mosaku) is reunited with Smoke (Michael B Jordan), you quickly discover that they share a deep history. Smoke argues about his lack of belief in Annie’s Hoodoo practices despite wearing the “mojo bag” that she made for him. Annie questions how Smoke doesn’t know the spiritual intentions she’s been setting to keep him safe throughout his travels. As she interrogates him, Sinners utilizes a deep echo sound effect to project the intensity of Annie’s words. It almost feels like Annie is connected to the ancestral realm as she affirms the power of her Hoodoo practices. This subtle use of sound fully affirms that Annie is a spiritual worker who is tapped into unseen forces.
Within the same scene, Sinners uses music as a background sound through the excellent incorporation of the guitar that’s been playing in the background of the movie. When Annie is updating Smoke’s mojo bag, she lights a candle by striking a match four times. Each time she strikes a match, an accompanying guitar string is played to complement what is happening in the scene. This intentional use of music is experienced throughout the film but can easily be missed the first time you watch Sinners. It masterfully highlights how incorporating sound, even during the minute details of a scene, can transform how the viewers receive the story.
Towards the end of this scene, Annie and Smoke are sexually intimate. The background instrumental music played during this scene does an amazing job of displaying the depth of their bond. The music feels like a beautiful love melody that heightens as the scene progresses, almost like an orchestral performance. You can describe it as hypnotic and mystical, which also brilliantly highlights Annie’s spiritual capacity as a Hoodoo practitioner. Even though their intimacy is short-lived, the yearning between the characters feels more than primal, it feels spiritual. It plays into the idea that their love transcends the earthly realm, which is later affirmed when the two reconnect in the ancestral realm.
We cannot talk about the music score in Sinners without paying homage to the exceptional sound mixing that magnifies Sammie’s infamous juke joint dance scene. In addition to the stunning visual element of the camera work, this scene is easily one of the best gifts the composer, Ludwig Göransson, could have given us.
The act of humming resurfaces when Sammie performs for the juke joint after he expresses that he loves the blues. We see humming used differently in this scene compared to the scene with Delta Slim. In this instance, Sammie elevates the juke joint with his performance, which is equally euphoric for us in the audience. We are taken on a magical ride of tapping into the past (conjuring ancestors) and connecting to the future (Afrofuturism) through the powerful display of Black American musical evolution. Sinners effectively showcases how the effortless sound mixing of different musical genres mimics the overall theme of the story.
During the opening credits, the film expresses how different cultures have a griot—a storyteller who preserves cultural knowledge through oral traditions. Sinners uses visual drawings and a voice-over narration to express that some griots are powerful enough to pierce through the spiritual realm. Fast forward to the dance scene, which uses music as a storytelling tool to drive home the message that Sammie is a powerful musical griot. This proves to be impactful because you feel transported through different cultures and timelines during his performance.
An interlude narration of Delta Slim speaking to Sammie amplifies the message of the dance scene. During the scene, Delta Slim expresses how Black Americans bought the Blues from Africa—a contrast to Christianity that was used to enslave them. It is a masterful display of when not to highlight sound, especially since music is used throughout most of Sinners. Instead, it gives you a moment to process the magnitude of that transformational dance scene. It echoes back to the opening credits that used voice narration to convey the power of a griot. This intentional decision through Delta Slim’s character is profoundly relevant in enhancing the film’s message.
As the music composer, Ludwig Göransson did an excellent job with the sound production for Sinners. There are so many intentional musical choices that are easy to miss. Watching the film more than once will reveal the subtle incorporation of sound and its effective ability to complement each scene.
The music score for this film will undoubtedly be studied and talked about for years to come. This much-appreciated contribution to cinema should serve as inspiration that sound can be a powerful tool for storytelling.
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