The following contains spoilers for Sinners, now playing in theatersRyan Coogler has been open about the inspirations for his vampire film Sinners — and one of them is not only very surprising, but also pretty perfect. Sinners is an original project from the acclaimed filmmaker, a departure from his recent films like Creed and Black Panther. Set in Mississippi in 1932, Sinners focuses on a newly opened juke joint that becomes the target of a vampiric threat. The horror movie contains all the cool elements and confident storytelling that elevated Coogler’s recent films, filtering his unique perspective into the scary new directions.

The critically acclaimed Sinners is also a movie that wears its inspirations on its sleeves. The movie features subtle shout-outs to lots of different things, ranging from real-life history of the era to cult classic movies like The Thing. One of the clearest inspirations for Sinners is actually a DreamWorks animated film, which on the surface may seem like a wild pull. However, given the character connection between the films, that similarity actually makes a lot of sense.

Sinners Took Inspiration From Puss In Boots: The Last Wish

Sinners’ Remmick Shares A Lot Of Qualities With Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’s Death

One of the films that helped inspire Ryan Coogler’s approach to Sinners was Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, which makes perfect sense after seeing both films. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was a critical high point for the Shrek franchise, with the film’s slick animation and compelling script drawing rave reviews when it was released in 2022. It seems one big fan of the film was Ryan Coogler, who told Complex that the animated film’s portrayal of Death helped inspire the visual look and physical demeanor of Remmick, Sinners‘ central antagonist.

Once it’s been pointed out, it’s hard not to see the thematic connection between Remmick in Sinners and Death in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Coogler specifically draws attention to the way the film focuses on the red eyes of both characters, along with their casual and grim confidence while delivering otherworldly pain to their victims. Both villains also notably have a more emotional motivation for their actions than just being monsters, with Remmick’s desire for community and Death’s frustrations with Puss giving them a human layer amid their supernatural abilities and perspective.

Ryan Coogler Was Also Inspired By Blues Music When Making Sinners

Music Is At The Very Core Of Sinners

While animation has clearly inspired some of Coogler’s creative decisions in Sinners, the film ultimately feels like a tribute to blues music and the influence it has had on American culture and Coogler specifically. During an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Coogler reflected on his love for the blues and the connection it gave to his deceased uncle served as one of the key moments that inspired Sinners. The research for the film took Coogler and Sinners‘ composer Ludwig Göransson to meet blues legends and other musical experts to craft the film’s distinctive soundtrack and score.

The segregated Southern and blues-heavy setting was crucial to Coogler’s approach to the story, rooting it in a dark chapter of American history and using the period setting to explore themes of race, society, and ᴀssimilation. Throughout, the film uses classical blues songs alongside new tracks to bridge the past to the present, similar to the way Sammie’s songs create a tether between the world of the living and the world of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Sinners‘ chief inspirations helped give the film its unique energy and ensured it stands out among a crowded field of vampire films.

Source: Complex, Los Angeles Times