Is God Is (2026)
Directed by: Aleshea Harris
Premise: A pair of twin sisters (Mallori Johnson and Kara Young) seek revenge on their abusive father.
What Works: Is God Is has the feel of a mythological tale set in contemporary America. A pair of heroes are sent on a quest; a disfigured mother orders her adult twin daughters to seek out and kill their abusive and estranged father. It’s a bleak idea but the concept works because of the film’s unique tone. Is God Is is not quite realistic and the filmmaking style and the performances fit together to create an oblique sense of reality. Mallori Johnson and Kara Young are cast as the twins Racine and Anaia. Although Johnson and Young don’t look much alike, their mannerisms and delivery are very much intertwined. Racine and Anaia come across as one-and-a-half people, each of them distinct but sharing a consciousness. They finish each other’s sentences and behave with a shared sense of purpose. The cast also includes Vivica A. Fox and Janelle Monáe as the other women in their father’s life and Fox and Monáe each get an interesting if limited part to play. Moral ambiguity colors the film in a way that complicates the revenge mission and the relationship between Racine and Anaia. The dialogue is one of Is God Is’ most outstanding qualities. There is a lyricism to the dialogue, especially between the twins, that supports the film’s fairytale qualities.
What Doesn’t: In the course of their quest, the twins encounter families and other people their father has left behind. While they do discover clues to his whereabouts, the twins don’t face character-revealing obstacles that are typical of a quest. Is God Is is also a revenge tale. These kinds of stories have an inherent problem. If the protagonist finally accomplishes their goal and kills the villain, the end of these movies can feel empty unless some secondary goal has also been accomplished or some greater good has been achieved. The filmmakers of Is God Is do include a character point that ends the film on a hopeful note with the possibility of a better, more loving future for this family. However, this development is tagged onto the ending and it is largely disconnected from the rest of the story. The conclusion of Is God Is is abrupt and doesn’t allow enough room for the viewer to take in everything that’s happened in the last few minutes.
Bottom Line: Is God Is is an impressive debut feature from filmmaker Aleshea Harris. The storytelling is a bit wobbly in places but the style and tone demonstrate a distinct filmmaking voice. It’s a thoughtful and poetic film about family and revenge.
Episode: #1101 (May 31, 2026)