Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.
- Awards
- 10 wins & 16 nominations total
- Beatrice
- (as Tenaj Jackson)
- Cornbread
- (as Omar Miller)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
First part of a deadly boredom, second based on clichés, derivative and poorly used narrative elements.
A less than mediocre blockbuster.
Yet another case of a film exalted by obsolete criticism and an audience poorly educated to the true refinement of the seventh art.
The fact that in May it's considered the best film of the year would make one believe in a mass hallucination but unfortunately the acclaim and success it has had is only the mirror of the times: a lack of truly worthy creativity and an increasingly poor and faded appreciation index.
Are you all really that shallow and bored you will give any movie that title.
As a drama movie I will give it a 7.
As a horror not more than a 6.
There are maybe 2-3 jump scares. And the story is half decent. It. Could have been used to build a great movie. But there is none of that. Maybe the blues fans will enjoy a song or two but that's it. Too many characters introduced, very little development on each front. Sets are decent.
Don't listen to all bought reviews online.
I'll start with the positives. First of all, I thought the acting was absolutely amazing. It was a really fantastic performance from the entire cast. I also thought the music was great; l'm not typically much of a blues guy, but l enjoyed what I heard.
As for the negatives, the biggest problem I had is that the film accomplished nothing. It finished and I was just like.....ok? What am I to make of this? It's categorized as Drama and Supernatural Horror, and while it is technically both of those, I wasn't impressed in either area. Suspense--a major part of both of those genres--was basically nonexistent. The 'normal' part of the plot (the stuff without the supernatural junk) was actually solid. It had a nice little twist in it, which the ending went back on. I just wish there was more of that.
Overall, it wasn't a bad movie, but it's not one I'd recommend. The best way to sum it up is this: it's a dime a dozen horror flick that's made watchable by a really good cast and great cinematography.
Final score of 6/10.
Production, costume, make up, visuals are very good.
Story is meh. Standard vampire look and behavior. Another movie implying some faith doesn't work in fighting demons but a voodoo mojo does, nothing new there.
I dislike musicals so its musical parts added nothing for me. The past and future music evoked could have been more abstract, but they were real people in different eras costumes mingling in, kinda ruined the believability of the 1930s vibe for me. Looked like a silly company dinner and dance instead.
Can totally see certain demographic overhyping this. Again, nothing new.
An okay watch overall, fun at times.
The film starts off brilliantly. Set in the Deep South during the 1930s, it plunges us into a world of chain gangs, overt racism, and raw human struggle-all wrapped in the soul of music. The characters are distinctive and memorable, the performances are top-notch, and the world-building is rich and atmospheric. It's a western, a drama, and a musical all at once, and somehow it works. For a while.
Then comes the second half.
This is where things fall apart. The pivot to horror-specifically vampires-feels abrupt and half-hearted. There's barely a story holding it together, and the horror/action sequences barely last 10-15 minutes. They lack any real suspense or memorable set pieces. The execution feels rushed and undercooked, especially after such a powerful setup.
The final 5-7 minutes attempt a bold anti-Klan message, and it's likely this moment of violence and symbolism that won over many critics. But for me, it was too little, too late.
What's most frustrating is the wasted potential. This could've been a truly unique vampire film-rooted in history, rich in theme, driven by character and song. Instead, it leaves you wondering what could've been if the second half had lived up to the promise of the first.
Michael B. Jordan Through the Years
Michael B. Jordan Through the Years
Did you know
- TriviaIt's particularly significant that Remmick is introduced fleeing from Choctaw hunters. Not only is the movie set in the historic Choctaw homeland, there is a long history of cooperation between the Choctaw (and Native America more broadly) and the Irish. The Irish Potato Famine occurred sixteen years after the Choctaw, Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, and Chickasaw peoples were forced to walk the Trail of Tears. Knowing tragedy and hunger themselves, Choctaw and Cherokee survivors donated hundreds of dollars to support famine relief. In 2017, Ireland erected the Kindred Spirits sculpture in acknowledgment of friendship between the two peoples, with a companion sculpture called Eternal Heart installed on Choctaw land in 2024. When the Coronavirus Pandemic began in 2020 and the Navajo and Hopi nations were hit especially hard, Ireland sent a two million dollar donation, accrediting it to Choctaw kindness in their time of need.
- GoofsWhen Smoke and Stack are waiting for Hogwood early in the movie to buy the sawmill from him, they are casting notably different shadows while standing beside their car, revealing how the scene was spliced together from two different shots of Michael B. Jordan taken at slightly different times of the day.
- Quotes
Old Sammie: You know something? Maybe once a week, I wake up paralyzed reliving that night. But before the sun went down, I think that was the best day of my life. Was it like that for you?
Stack: No doubt about it. Last time I seen my brother. Last time I seen the sun. And just for a few hours, we was free.
- Crazy creditsThere is a short post-credits scene that flashes back to the past where Sammie performs "I'm Gonna Let It Shine".
- ConnectionsFeatured in Dead Meat Podcast: Upcoming Horror Sneak Peeks (2025)
- SoundtracksIrish Filídh, Choctaw Chant and West African Griot Suite
Performed by Iarla O'Lionaird (as Iarla Ó Lionáird), Jaeden Ariana Wesley and DC6 Singers Collective
Everything New on HBO Max in July
Everything New on HBO Max in July
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Pecadores
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $90,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $278,578,513
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $48,007,468
- Apr 20, 2025
- Gross worldwide
- $365,878,513
- Runtime2 hours 17 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.76 : 1