‘Is God Is’ (2026)

Following twins Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson) 'Is God Is' tracks the two as they go on a journey of discovery through the American South. Having received a letter from their presumed dead mother Ruby (Vivica A. Fox) the twins travel to Ruby's deathbed as their mother makes a final request, - for the twins to track down their father and kill him.

Living a simple life, Racine and Anaia struggle to fit in as they have been left severely disfigured by a fire started by their father when they were little. Assuming their mother had perished in that same fire, the sisters are shocked to have received a letter from Ruby. Young portrays the more ready and hot-headed of the duo, insisting they go to the South to see their mother. Reticent, Johnson plays the more quiet and shy half of the pair, unsure if visiting their mother is a good idea.

Examining both physical and emotional trauma, the twins have endured a lifetime of exclusion and bullying. With Racine having scars over her left arm and Anaia's scars covering most of her face and chest, Anaia suffers more stares and insults with Racine feeling the need to stand up for her sister, ready to jump on whoever slights Anaia. Learning from their mother, who they dub 'God' as she gave birth to them, that their father, credited only as 'Man' (Stirling K. Brown), set fire to her and left her for dead, the girls are tasked with patricide.

Confronted with such a shocking request, the film shines as it displays both Young and Johnson’s chemistry and their natural aptitude for comedy. Somehow both humorous and deadly serious, the scene where God requests the girls to do the unimaginable sways between comedy and drama, displaying writer and feature director Aleshea Harris' intrinsic ability to masterfully command a storm of emotions. Allowing the audience to both appreciate the absurdity of the situation and then take in the seriousness of the request, Harris' feature debut lands successfully and sets the ever-shifting tone for the remainder of the feature.

Adapted from her own 2018 play of the same name, the director transforms that set for the stage aptly and fittingly. Without feeling limited in its space and settings, the journey the two sisters take does not feel boxed in or static, like an adaptation of a play might feel. Instead, Racine and Anaia explore the wondrous and vivid southern states, jumping from one town to another in their quest for revenge.

The heart of the film lies between the twins. Growing increasingly erratic and focused on extinguishing Man the more she learns about his violent misdeeds and abandoned children, Racine is only slightly reigned in by the more level-headed Anaia. Focusing years of pent-up rage stemming from the fire incident in their childhood, Young delivers an increasingly unhinged force with one goal in mind. At the same time, Johnson attempts to suppress Racine as she feels murder will not solve anything.

Ultimately resolving in a violent showdown, the twins confront their father and unleash years of isolation and abuse onto him. Beating him with a rock-in-a-sock combo, the twins set Man on fire, with Racine tragically being dragged down by Man. Unable to help as she is pregnant, Anaia flees the scene.

Tragic, unsettling and at times playing like a comedy, 'Is God Is' does not pity its protagonists, rather focusing on examining what isolation, trauma and neglect can result in. Finding their own way to retribution, Young and Johnson portray two very different ways of coping with their emotions and ultimately Johnson escapes the cycle of violence as she has to plan for a way forward, rather than being destroyed by focusing on revenge.

Vibrant, exciting and violent, 'Is God Is' forces one to go on a road trip to retribution, laughing and ultimately killing all the way. Confident in its subject matter, the deep exploration of generational trauma is accompanied by love and care the twins share, making the feature an unforgettable modern Southern Gothic thriller.

Score: 4/4