Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Stylish, violent, and thought-provoking revenge film.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Is God Is
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
IS GOD IS, adapted from writer/director Aleshea Harris' same-named 2018 play, follows twin sisters Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson), who are both burn survivors with extensive scarring on their bodies. After they lose their jobs, Racine receives a letter explaining that the mother whom they believed was dead (Vivica A. Fox) is actually alive—but terminally ill. The twins take a road trip to meet her and discover that she's also a severe burn survivor. She asks her daughters to bring her peace by killing their father (Sterling K. Brown), whose horrific act of domestic violence nearly killed all three of them. Racine agrees immediately and convinces Anaia to honor their mother's request for vengeance, reasoning that since she created them, she's a bit like God. The sisters embark on another road trip to track down their father, leading to a series of darkly humorous and occasionally violent encounters before they finally find out where, and with whom, he's been living.
Is It Any Good?
This unforgettable, brilliantly acted film is a treatise on vengeance, sisterhood, and generational trauma. Is God Is, adapted from Harris' own award-winning play, is the kind of confident, fast-paced, humorous, and entertaining thriller that lingers long after the credits roll. Young and Johnson look nothing like fraternal twins, much less identical ones, but it doesn't matter because they're so good at conveying the sisters' ability to communicate without words. Young's Racine is fiercely protective and more than willing to commit violence, while Johnson's gentler, kinder Anaia remains committed to supporting her twin, even when she doesn't agree with her.
Is God Is never feels like a filmed stage production. The visuals and action sequences are dynamic, and cinematographer Alexander Dynan creates an atmospheric look at the various landscapes the twins travel through, from shots framed beneath weeping willows to the modern mansion buffeted by palm trees where the climactic final act unfolds. The supporting cast is incredibly well-cast, particularly Fox as the bed-bound but strong-willed mother, Erika Alexander as the father's delusional preacher ex-girlfriend, and Brown as the sisters' frightening father. Harris' multi-genre film may not end the way U.S. audiences expect, but it's a thought-provoking work from a talented filmmaker.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Is God Is portrays the impact of intimate partner abuse. What does the movie have to say about both abusers and abuse survivors?
Do you think the amount and type of violence is appropriate for the movie's storyline? Why, or why not?
Racine and Anaia are motivated by loyalty to each other and a desire to fulfill their mother's final wish. Discuss the difference between justice and revenge. Are they the same thing?
Many of the characters are morally complex. Did your feelings about any characters change as the movie went on? Did any characters surprise you with their behavior?
Movie Details
- In theaters : May 15, 2026
- Cast : Mallori Johnson , Kara Young , Vivica A. Fox , Janelle Monáe
- Director : Aleshea Harris
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Director(s) , African American Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , African American Movie Actor(s) , Non-Binary Movie Actor(s) , Pansexual Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s) , Black Movie Writer(s) , African American Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Amazon MGM Studios
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Family Stories ( Adoptees and Foster Kids , Siblings )
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong/bloody violence and language
- Last updated : May 21, 2026
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