Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Sinners!
Sinners‘ vampire twist is one of the most important parts of the film’s thematic messaging, and here is why the vampires in the movie are Irish, what it means, and how it connects to real-world history. Despite being a fun horror movie, Sinners has a lot of deep messages about race, immigration, and more, and the Irish vampires are key to understanding it all.
Sinners tells the story of twin brothers Smoke and Stack, two gangsters from Chicago who move to Mississippi in the 1930s in order to open a juke joint. On the night of the grand opening, three white vampires show up at their door, with them reigning terror on the black attendees after being turned away.
By the end of the film, most of the people from the juke joint have been turned into vampires, with them being led by the Irish leader, Remmick. Luckily, most of the vampires are defeated, but Sinners‘ post-credits scene hints that the vampiric curse will continue to haunt the world well into the future.
The Importance & Meaning Of Remmick Being Irish In Sinners
How It Connects To Sinners’ Themes
Remmick being Irish isn’t a mere coincidence, as it actually connects to the themes of Sinners. Ryan Coogler has explained that he wanted Sinners to explore the “crossover there is between African American culture and Irish culture,” especially through their music (via IndieWire).
Coogler also wanted Remmick to come “from a time that pre-existed these racial definitions that existed in this place that he showed up in.” Thus, he uses the allure of his music to appeal to the attendees of the juke joint, with his experiences as an Irish immigrant creating a parallel between the Irish vampires and the African American humans.
Remmick actor Jack O’Connell also discussed the characters Irish roots. According to O’Connel, the Irish origins allows Sinners to explore “the influence that had on the American south at this particular time, and how that found its way into the music there” (via GQ). This is just one of the many ways that Remmick’s Irish roots convey Sinners‘ commentary on American history.
The History Of Irish Vampires, From Dracula To Angel
Sinners Isn’t The First Depiction Of Irish Vampires
While vampires are often ᴀssociated with Romania, they also have a historical connection to Irish folklore. While it is often cited that Vlad the Impaler was the inspiration for Dracula, many folklore historians have cited the early Irish legend of Abhartach as an alternate inspiration.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer contains the most significant modern depiction of Irish vampires, with Angelus acting as one of the main antagonists of the show. While these Irish vampires don’t serve the same thematic purpose as the ones seen in Sinners, they prove that Ireland has a history with the mythological creatures.
