Mississippi October 1932: It’s the opening Night of the twins’ Elijah „Smoke“ and Elias „Stack“ Moore (both portrayed by Michael B. Jordan), juke joint, a place from and primarily for African Americans to make music, dance, gamble, and drink, but something is out to get them… something not quite human.
They must surely ask themselves how did they get here? After surviving the first world war and making it through a life of crime in the gangster riddled city of Chicago (where they also may or may not have made the money to open their establishment), they hoped to settle down again peacefully in their childhood hometown and give their cousin Sammy (Miles Caton) the opportunity to fulfill his wish to become a blues musician.
And of course there aren’t just supernatural threats that mean to harm them, with the KKK also particularly active in the area and Stack’s hate filled ex-girlfriend Mary (Hailee Steinfeld) coming to visit, there is a recipe for disaster already stirring.
Be not afraid of what you might find in the dark because this movie is worth watching for the deep symbolism that’s worked into it combined with the stunning soundtrack. You won’t be disappointed. (JK)