Is God Is (2026 | US | 100 minutes | Aleshea Harris Work)
Is God Is follows twins as they navigate the nasty business of revenge. While they have every right to want it for themselves, their motivation is to right a wrong for their Mother who they haven’t seen since childhood. Called to her bedside, they find she’s near death and the only thing that will bring her peace is bringing an end to the psychopathic man they once called Dad. On what seems like a buddy comedy style road trip to find his whereabouts, they traipse through other lives he has destroyed which only fans the flames of their repressed rage. With one of the pair bold, charismatic and slightly unhinged and the other hiding from the world out of fear and self-preservation the two begin to view this journey with very different perspectives. Revenge isn’t always the answer, but they’ve come to far to stop now.
After finding out the film is based on a highly lauded play, it makes a lot more sense now. The story itself feels more fit for the stage with it’s boldness and at times allows emotion to move the story forward rather than the characters themselves. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it has a different feel to it when a screenplay has its beginnings in the playhouse. The complexities of the human heart in all of its glory were laid bare in this film from pure anger to a loving bond tighter than most of us experience in our lifetimes. It brought a depth and richness to the characters and drew in the audience calling for empathy even during the most gruesome points of the storyline.
While the violence was over the top for me at times, there was also an abundance of metaphorical and thought-provoking moments that make you question your own humanity. What would you do if one person literally ruined your life? Is it fair to seek revenge? Is it even good for you and your mental health to deliver righteous rage on another. Forgiving others, especially those who still have no concern for you or your well-being, has to be one of the hardest things to do and I honestly don’t know what I would have done in their shoes. The story itself felt unresolved, yet it still had a hard and fast end that was somewhat satisfying. The uneasy completion of the story is just part of its dark and painful beauty and the occasional hilarity thrown in almost feels out of place. Life is messy and while someone may actually be an irredeemable a**hole, that doesn’t mean we have to fall down in the dirt with them… or maybe we should?
One honorable mention in a cast chock full of talent (ie Sterling K Brown, Vivica Fox and Janelle Monae to name a few), Erika Alexander was an unexpected but welcome surprise as the second paramour to “father psychopath”. I have been a fan of hers since Living Single, but it’s been a while since she crossed my field of view. Based just on the criminally short screen time her character received, she is still as witty, talented, and funny as ever. I certainly hope it doesn’t take another decade to see her on the big (or small) screen.
Is God Is arrives in theaters on this weekend on 5/15