Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe The True Story Behind the Irish–Choctaw Bond Explored in "Sinners" by Ryan Coogler
Thank you for your patience on this episode going up Tuesday vs Monday and happy Easter, coconuts ❤️ 🥥
🎙️ Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe: Sinners by Ryan Coogler – Breaking the Franchise Formula with Folklore, Fire, and Originality
In this episode of Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe, I break down Sinners, Ryan Coogler’s genre-bending horror film starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and newcomer Miles Caton. With a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and an “A” CinemaScore—the first for a horror film in nearly 40 years—Sinners is redefining what original IP can achieve at the box office.
Filmed in part on IMAX by cinematographer Autumn Durald Arkapaw, the story follows twin brothers navigating 1930s Mississippi, ancestral trauma, and a supernatural force drawn to music. I analyze how the film explores cultural appropriation, Black creativity, and the thin line between allyship and harm.
🔍 Episode topics include:
– Irish folklore and Remmick’s metaphor as the cultural vampire -
– Chinese immigrant inclusion and survival under Jim Crow
– The long-take juke joint scene and the symbolism of fire– Behind-the-scenes insights: IMAX filming challenges, Michael B. Jordan’s reaction to fake blood, and the discovery of Miles Caton
🔓 Extended analysis on Substack at cocomocoe.substack.com
– The theme of “The Danger of Being Seen” as a Black artist
– Native American representation and Choctaw-Irish historical ties
– The doppelgänger metaphor in the SmokeStack twins
– Why Sinners is one of the most effective branded films in recent years
⏰ Time Stamps:
* Introduction — 0:00
* The Franchise Formula of Hollywood — 2:58
* “Sinners” Ratings — 4:39
* “Sinners” Spoiler Free Synopsis — 5:38
* The Irish Folklore and History in “Sinners” — 11:26
* The Chinese immigrants in “Sinners” — 17:03
* One of the most important scenes in the movie — 18:46
* Fun facts about the making of “Sinners” — 22:40
🔐 Extended Episode at cocomocoe.substack.com for $9-a-month:
* The fear of being seen — 30:50
* The history of Choctaw native — 35:00
* The connection between the Irish and the Choctaw — 38:04
* The brilliant branding of “Sinners” — 43:07
🎧 Featured links:
* IndieWire interview with Ryan Coogler
* In Proximity Podcast – Coogler & Arkapaw
* TikTok: Simone Umba, Straw Hat Goofy, Edits With Ego
📍 Full episode at: cocomocoe.substack.com
🎬 Tag @cocomocoe with your thoughts after watching Sinners.
📥 Email: cocomocoe@gmail.com
Ahead of the Curve with Coco Mocoe is the podcast for people who need to know what’s next. Hosted by media analyst and trend forecaster Coco Mocoe, this show breaks down the latest in marketing, pop culture, social media, and the creator economy—before it hits the mainstream. Whether it’s decoding brand strategy, analyzing viral moments, or predicting the future of fame, Coco dives into the cultural shifts shaping our digital world. If you’re a marketer, content creator, or just chronically online, you’ll leave each episode smarter, sharper, and a few weeks ahead of your group chat.
🎙️ New episodes weekly. Ranked in Apple’s Top Marketing Podcasts & a Substack Best-Seller 🧡