Ryan Coogler’s horror film Sinners, available now on HBO Max, has captivated audiences with its deep and eerie lore. The story focuses on the Smokestack twins—both played by Michael B. Jordan—exploring their complex past as World War I veterans and their mysterious journey through the American South. Despite the movie’s rich narrative, certain elements, such as how the twins amassed their fortune in Chicago and how Remmick, the villain played by Jack O’Connell, ended up in the Mississippi Delta, remain largely unexplained but are uncovered in unexpected places like Spotify. This Ryan Coogler Sinners hidden backstory expands on key mysteries left hanging in the film.
The Hidden Truth Behind the Smokestack Twins’ Wealth and Criminal Past
Viewers often wonder how the Smokestack twins suddenly return to their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, flush with wealth. While the film hints at their time working in Chicago, a revealing newspaper clipping dated February 9, 1924, uncovers the real story. It reports on a violent bank robbery in Clarksdale, involving two criminals described as
“looked so alike, almost like they could’ve been twins.”
The article characterizes one robber as the intelligent planner, while the other used sheer physical force, a dynamic that mirrors the twins’ personalities.
The robbers escaped with a large sum of money and were suspected of involvement in other robberies nearby. Although unnamed, the article’s photographs strongly suggest that the twins orchestrated the heist, shedding light on how they gained their fortune. Returning to their hometown, Smoke and Stack earn a cautious respect—partly for their war service in World War I—but locals remain wary of their dangerous reputation. The twins’ contrasting traits—intelligence and muscle—as depicted in the robbery report, highlight the duality that defines them throughout the film.
Still, the origin of their access to high-quality alcohol sold at their juke joint remains unspoken in the movie, leaving room for further investigation into their illicit history.
The Twins’ Service in World War I and Connections to Chicago’s Criminal Underworld
The Smokestack twins’ backstory extends beyond their military service during World War I, spanning from 1914 to 1919. Their combat experience gave them skills that aided their criminal pursuits back in the Mississippi Delta. However, the years they spent in Chicago after the war remain shrouded in mystery. Upon their return South, locals question Smoke why he hasn’t stayed in Chicago working for mob boss Al Capone, recently convicted of tax evasion in 1931, just before the movie’s timeline.
Another newspaper clipping dated October 5, 1932, hints at their troubled years in Chicago. It describes rising tensions between the Irish mob and the Italian mafia, centered on accusations of stolen alcohol shipments during Prohibition. Although the twin’s direct involvement is not explicitly mentioned, clues link them to the ongoing underworld struggles. When Smoke offers Delta Slim (played by Delroy Lindo) Irish beer to persuade him to play at their juke joint, it reinforces their connection to this violent turf war.
The twins’ attire upon their arrival in the South also nods to their mob ties: Smoke’s blue paddy cap symbolizes his Irish connections, while Stack’s red fedora hints at Italian mafia affiliations. The color scheme—Smoke often in blue and Stack often in red—further emphasizes their divided identities and foreshadows Stack’s transformation into a vampire, with glowing red eyes, contrasting with Smoke’s humanity. These details enrich the twins’ layered and conflicted characters, connecting their wartime past to their criminal activities and supernatural fate.
Documenting Remmick’s Mysterious Arrival and Origins
Remmick, the film’s main antagonist, arrives at the story’s center as a menacing and enigmatic presence. While his origins are never fully explained on-screen, Spotify’s supplementary material offers chilling insights into his past. Known for turning people of varied backgrounds into vampires, Remmick is obsessed with Sammie (Miles Caton), whose musical abilities transcend mortality and inspire Remmick’s followers.
Remmick openly reveals his Irish heritage through his natural accent and the traditional song “The Rocky Road to Dublin,” sung by his peers. His disdain for the Christian conversion of his ancestors suggests an age that spans centuries. A Boston newspaper clipping from August 1, 1911, reports the arrival of the Irish immigrant ship Celtic Hare, found wrecked and abandoned, its decks soaked in blood with no survivors or bodies recovered. The mysterious survivor was said to be
“a lone man fleeing the scene, his skin reportedly smoking as he disappeared into the shadows.”
While it is not conclusively established that this figure was Remmick, the story aligns with his introduction in the film, when he flees from Choctaw vampire hunters. This haunting beginning marks the start of his decades-long, violent trajectory across the United States, tying his ominous presence directly to his origins in Irish folklore and American history.
Complex Characters Played by Michael B. Jordan and Supporting Cast
Michael B. Jordan delivers a powerful dual performance as both Smoke and Stack, embodying their contrasting qualities with nuance. Alongside him, Hailee Steinfeld portrays Mary, bringing depth to the story’s emotional core. Miles Caton appears as Sammie, whose gift serves as a crucial plot device, while Delroy Lindo’s role as Delta Slim connects the brothers to the local community. Jack O’Connell’s portrayal of Remmick anchors the supernatural threat that drives the film’s tension.
The interplay of these characters against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, with its racial, social, and supernatural tensions, creates a richly textured narrative enhanced by the uncovered Spotify extras that deepen the understanding of their histories.
Significance of Uncovering the Hidden Backstory
The discovery of these hidden newspaper clippings and detailed lore on Spotify transforms viewers’ understanding of Sinners and its characters, providing vital context that the film itself only hints at. Ryan Coogler’s innovative use of a music streaming platform to reveal these secret narratives recalls the lost era of DVD extras, inviting fans to piece together the characters’ pasts. By uncovering the twins’ criminal acts, mob ties, and war service alongside Remmick’s supernatural arrival, audiences gain a more comprehensive picture of motivations behind their actions and the strained world they inhabit.
These revelations enrich the story’s themes of duality, power, and survival while illustrating how history, myth, and violence intersect in the film’s setting. As viewers explore these hidden layers, anticipation builds for how such detailed backstories might influence future works connected to Coogler’s unsettling universe.
