Critics at Large | The New Yorker

How “Sinners” Revives the Vampire

May 1, 2025

The podcast dives into how Ryan Coogler's film "Sinners" uses vampires to explore deep societal issues like race and identity. The discussion traces vampire lore from classic texts to modern portrayals, including how figures like Edward Cullen reshaped these monsters into relatable characters. Cultural themes like oppression and resistance are woven through the narrative, showcasing the rich tapestry of music and community. Finally, it examines the existential questions about youth and mortality that resonate within contemporary vampire narratives.

43:15

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Quick takeaways

Ryan Coogler's film 'Sinners' uses the vampire narrative to reflect on societal injustices, inviting audiences to reconsider America's historical fears.

The portrayal of vampires in 'Sinners' explores themes of cultural appropriation and resistance, emphasizing the complexities of black cultural identity.

Deep dives

Cultural Significance of Vampires

The podcast analyzes the cultural significance of the vampire trope, emphasizing its role as a lens for exploring societal fears and tensions. Vampires have often been associated with various cultural anxieties, such as immigration, race, and gender issues. The discussion highlights how Ryan Coogler's film, 'Sinners', utilizes the vampire narrative to reflect collective concerns about America's historical injustices. By reviving the vampire theme, the film invites audiences to reconsider these societal issues from a unique perspective.

Intro

2min

Exploring Cultural Themes through the Lens of Vampires in 'Sinners'

3min

Vampires and Juke Joints: A Cultural Reflection

14min

The Resurgence of Vampire Culture in 'Sinners'

3min

The Evolution of Vampires in Literature and Media

10min

Reimagining Vampire Tropes in Young Adult Literature

2min

Reimagining Vampires: Heroes or Villains?

10min

The Existential Dilemma of Vampires in Contemporary Narrative

2min

The vampire has long been a way to explore the shadow side of society, and “Sinners,” Ryan Coogler’s new blockbuster set in the Jim Crow-era South, is no exception. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss what “Sinners,” which fuses historical realism with monster-movie-style horror, illuminates about America in 2025. They trace the archetype from such nineteenth-century texts as “The Vampyre” and “Dracula” to the “Twilight” moment of the aughts, when Edward Cullen, an ethical bloodsucker committed to abstinence, turned the vampire from a predatory outsider into a Y.A. heartthrob. What do he and his ilk have to say today? “The vampire is the one who can unsettle our notions, and maybe give us new notions,” Cunningham says. “The vampire comes in and asks, ‘But have you considered this?’ ”

Read, watch, and listen with the critics:

“Sinners” (2025)
“Black Panther” (2018)
“The Vampyre,” by John Polidori
“In the Blood,” by Joan Acocella (The New Yorker)
“Dracula,” by Bram Stoker
“Dracula” (1931)
“Love at First Bite” (1979)
“The Lost Boys” (1987)
“True Blood” (2008–14)
“Twilight” (2008)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (2019–24)

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Critics at Large | The New Yorker

How “Sinners” Revives the Vampire

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Cultural Significance of Vampires

Setting and Themes of 'Sinners'

Vampires as Symbols of Cultural Appropriation

Historical Revisionism and Identity

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts