During the filming of Sinners, star Hailee Steinfeld encountered an unusual challenge involving fake blood, which made the production notably difficult. The supernatural horror blues musical, directed by Ryan Coogler and starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles, unfolds in the Mississippi Delta as twin gangsters Elijah and Elias Moore, also known as Smoke and Stack, return home to open a juke joint that attracts deadly vampires. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mary, Stack’s white-passing former lover, and is featured prominently in some of the film’s most graphic scenes.
Behind-the-Scenes Challenges with Fake Blood on Set
While appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show in April 2025 alongside Wunmi Mosaku, Steinfeld shared details about spending days drenched in fake blood during filming. Curious about the substance, she asked the makeup team about its components, receiving only a vague reply:
“The only thing I got back was ‘it’s vegan.’”
– Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
Although the material was vegan, Steinfeld explained that it was far stickier than expected, which caused considerable discomfort on set.
“The craziest thing about it that they failed to mention,”
she said, describing how the blood’s texture led to actors’ fingers and limbs sticking together. The crew had to intervene frequently by spraying water to loosen the sticky residue between takes, helping the cast avoid getting glued in place.
Appreciation for the Makeup and Special Effects Teams
Despite the unpleasant filming conditions, Steinfeld expressed admiration for the makeup and special effects departments that brought the vivid and gruesome world of Sinners to life. She gave recognition during the interview:
She shouted them out to show host Clarkson, as well as the special effects team that brought the undead in “Sinners” to sticky, blood-soaked life on the big screen.
– Hailee Steinfeld, Actress
The extensive use of practical effects contributed to the film’s immersive Southern Gothic atmosphere, enhancing its intense depiction of violence, vampirism, and the struggles of the Black community in the Depression-era Mississippi Delta. The challenging production process and the commitment of the cast and crew underscore the ambitious scope of Ryan Coogler’s film.
As Sinners reaches audiences, insight into the demanding filming experience reveals the lengths taken to craft this intense vision. The complex and sticky nature of the practical effects will likely captivate horror and thriller fans, emphasizing the dedication behind the project and hinting at the Maddening physical demands that the cast endured to bring this haunting story to the screen.
