Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners‘ is already a bold movie. It’s a vampire horror story set in Mississippi in 1932, where a newly opened juke joint becomes the target of something deadly.
But the biggest surprise behind ‘Sinners‘ isn’t the setting or even the vampiric threat. It’s the movie Coogler credits as a major inspiration while creating it. The pick may seem too random to be real, until you hear how it connects directly to ‘Sinners’ scariest character.
Ryan Coogler’s Inspiration For ‘Sinners’ Came From A DreamWorks Movie
Ryan Coogler has made it clear that ‘Sinners‘ doesn’t hide what inspired it. The film includes touches pulled from the real history of the era, and it also borrows from cult classics like ‘The Thing‘. Those influences help the film feel bigger than a standard vampire story. One inspiration among them sounds completely unexpected.
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Coogler drew inspiration from ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish‘, the DreamWorks animated film released in 2022. The movie became a major high point for the Shrek franchise and earned rave reviews for its animation and strong script. Coogler confirmed the connection in an interview with ‘Complex‘, saying that the film’s portrayal of Death helped inspire the visual look and physical demeanor of Remmick, the central antagonist in ‘Sinners‘.
That comparison might sound strange at first, but the character link makes the connection feel natural once you see it.
Remmick And Death Share The Same Threatening Energy
Coogler specifically pointed to the red eyes both characters have. Those red eyes aren’t just there for a creepy look; they work like a warning sign that danger has arrived.
The second Remmick appears, that same “something is coming for you” feeling hits, just like it does when Death steps into a scene. Remmick also carries the same confidence Death has. Both characters deliver otherworldly pain like they already know nobody can stop them. Their fear factor is quite evident.
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Another reason the “wild pull” makes perfect sense is the emotional motivation behind both villains. Remmick isn’t just a monster attacking for no reason. His desire for community gives him a human layer under the supernatural threat. Death works the same way, since his frustration with Puss gives him a personal reason for everything he does. That emotional edge makes both characters feel more real.
Animation may have influenced Remmick’s presence, but blues music sits at the core of Sinners. The film feels like a tribute to the blues and the way they contributed to American culture, especially in the South during that time. Coogler shared that his love for the blues also connected him to his late uncle, and that bond became one of the key inspirations behind ‘Sinners‘.
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