“Sinners,” a supernatural horror blues musical rich with Southern Gothic allure, represents the most daring endeavor yet for Academy Award-nominated director Ryan Coogler. Featuring Coogler’s regular collaborator Michael B. Jordan tackling the intense dual roles of twin gangsters Elijah and Elias Moore, referred to as “Smoke” and “Stack,” the narrative unfolds as they return to the Depression-era Mississippi Delta, having built their wealth in Chicago. The siblings launch a juke joint aimed at the Black community, only for its grand opening to be interrupted by a horde of bloodthirsty vampires.

Joining the cast is Hailee Steinfeld as Mary, Stack’s ex-lover who can pass for white. She reunites with him at the juke joint just before chaos erupts. Portraying more than just a romantic figure, Steinfeld—known for her roles in “True Grit” and “Hawkeye”—participates in several of the film’s most gruesome sequences.

Despite the scenes of characters—both human and vampire—being savaged, set ablaze, or drenched in drool, Steinfeld found one particular filming element especially unpleasant: being slathered in fake blood.

Appearing on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in April 2025 with co-star and fellow Marvel alum Wunmi Mosaku, Steinfeld discussed enduring several days of shooting while soaked in fake blood. Curious about its composition, she inquired with the makeup team, remarking to Clarkson, “The only response was ‘it’s vegan.'”

These scant details hardly prepared Steinfeld and her colleagues for the substance’s true nature. “The most surprising aspect,” Steinfeld elaborated, “was the extreme stickiness.” Demonstrating with hand gestures, she recounted how this ironically vegan fluid caused actors’ appendages to adhere to each other during filming. Thankfully, between takes, a staff member used a spray bottle to spritz the grossed-out and glued-together actors with water.

Ultimately, Hailee Steinfeld praised the film’s “phenomenal, phenomenal” makeup team. She acknowledged their work to show host Clarkson, along with the special effects crew responsible for animating the undead in “Sinners” with their sticky, blood-drenched appearances on screen.