Sinners: Dr. Umar's Deep Dive into the Powerful Themes of Good vs. Evil, Music, and Spirituality in Cinema

In an in-depth interview, Dr. Umar Johnson passionately discussed the hit film Sinners, a groundbreaking horror movie produced by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan. With his unique perspective, Dr. Umar offered a profound analysis of the film’s themes, delving into spirituality, ancestral power, demonic possession, and the broader implications of cultural and spiritual awareness. According to Dr. Umar, Sinners is not just a movie but a wake-up call for African people, urging them to see the hidden forces at play in their lives.

An A++ Movie with a Powerful Message

Dr. Umar wasted no time in offering high praise for Sinners, awarding it an A++ rating. He emphasizes the importance of the film for African communities, encouraging everyone to rush to the theaters to see it, much like the excitement around Black Panther. He believes Sinners is one of the highest-rated horror movies ever, a milestone for Black cinema that is steeped in deeply spiritual and cultural truths.

“It’s the first horror movie to get an A rating on major review platforms. It’s not just a fictional story—it speaks a very real, non-fictional truth,” he says. The film explores the dual forces of good and evil, with music at the center of it all. Dr. Umar highlights that the film beautifully intertwines ancestral protection, demonic possession, and the wages of sin, which, according to the film, equates to death.

The Chosen One: Music as a Tool for Liberation

At the heart of the film is Sammy, the protagonist—chosen by God to perform a divine mission on Earth through his music. Dr. Umar explains that Sammy, a talented guitar player, falls prey to the temptations of the world, influenced by friends like Smoke and Stack. Instead of using his music to uplift, Sammy’s talent becomes a tool for indulgence, feeding into lower desires and driving him away from his spiritual path.

Through his analysis, Dr. Umar, who is an initiated priest of the ancestors, connects deeply with the film’s portrayal of Sammy’s internal struggle. Sammy’s father, a pastor, sees his son's divine gift and warns him about the need for spiritual discipline to prevent evil forces from manipulating his talent. Unfortunately, Sammy’s inability to control his gift leads to a tragic descent into spiritual chaos.

“The frequency you operate on in life determines the energy that follows you—whether it’s divine or demonic,” Dr. Umar explains. The movie suggests that engaging in low-frequency behavior, such as partying and indulging in lustful acts, attracts dark forces. Dr. Umar further relates the nightclub scenes in the film to demonic rituals, pointing out the parallels between the behavior in these spaces and the dark forces at play. “In the nightclub, people are drinking, smoking, dancing, gossiping—these are the same ingredients the devil uses to separate you from your soul,” he warns.

The Battle Between Good and Evil

Dr. Umar continues by emphasizing that Sinners is fundamentally about the ongoing battle between good and evil. In the movie, the characters—especially Sammy—are faced with a choice: either align with divine forces or succumb to the temptations of evil. Through Sammy’s relationship with Smoke and Stack, the film portrays the destructive nature of sin and its consequences, with one of the characters losing their life due to their sinful ways.

“The wages of sin are death,” says Dr. Umar, referencing the biblical concept that sin leads to spiritual death in this life. He stresses that Sammy, much like many gifted individuals in real life, is forced to confront the decision of whether to serve God or the devil. This theme of choosing between spiritual purity and earthly pleasures is central to the plot.

The Role of Music: A Divine Gift or a Devil’s Tool?

One of the most compelling aspects of Sinners, according to Dr. Umar, is the portrayal of music as both a divine gift and a potential tool of evil. He explains that certain musicians are born with a special ability, one that can pierce the veil between the physical world and the spiritual realm. The movie, he notes, explores how powerful music can be when used for either good or evil.

Dr. Umar draws a parallel to famous musicians like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Prince, all of whom were gifted but faced their own spiritual struggles. He suggests that these musicians either used their talents to serve the Lord or to fall victim to demonic manipulation. The film Sinners serves as a reminder that music can influence the soul, and choosing to use it for evil leads to a path of spiritual destruction.

The Role of Ancestral Spirituality in Defeating Evil

Another key point in Dr. Umar’s analysis is the depiction of ancestral spirituality. In the film, the ancestral priestess, a powerful character dressed in white, is the only one who can combat the vampires. Dr. Umar stresses that African spirituality, older than many other religions, holds unique power to combat demonic forces that others might not understand.

“The ancestors are the only ones who know how to deal with the vampires,” Dr. Umar asserts, pointing out that African spirituality holds the tools needed to fight evil—tools that many Christians, Muslims, and Jews have been brainwashed to overlook. Despite its deep roots in African culture, this ancient knowledge is often dismissed by many African Americans due to religious conditioning.

Cultural and Spiritual Awakening

Dr. Umar concludes his thoughts on Sinners by urging Black people to wake up and recognize the deep cultural and spiritual messages embedded in the film. He calls out Christians who criticize the movie for being “demonic,” encouraging them to examine their own beliefs and practices more critically. He challenges the hypocrisy of those who criticize African spirituality while adhering to systems that have historically oppressed African people.

“There’s more devils in church than there are in society,” he quips, emphasizing the need for a cultural and spiritual awakening among Black people. He also highlights the movie’s importance in the face of global racism and white supremacy, pointing to the movie’s commercial success as a major achievement for Black cinema.

In the end, Dr. Umar sees Sinners as a must-see film for all African people, urging everyone to recognize the battle between good and evil that is taking place in the world—and within themselves. As he sums up: “It’s about good and evil, ancestral veneration, and the responsibility we have to recognize and fight against the dark forces that seek to destroy us.”