In 2018, playwright Aleshea Harris’s ” Is God Is debuted Off-Broadway to some critical acclaim. It was only a matter of time before Hollywood would adapt it for the big screen. Fans of the stage play would have to wait eight years for that to happen, but the time has arrived: Harris is making her directorial debut with the movie version of Is God Is. Prior to watching the movie, I had no previous knowledge of or experience with the play, but I can definitely tell that Harris has a unique style and voice, elevating a simple revenge story to new heights.
Like the play, the film focuses on two twin sisters, Racine and Anaia. As close as twins can be, Racine and Anaia have polar opposite personalities. Racine (Kara Young), known as “the rough one,” is hot-tempered, strong-willed, and highly protective of her sister. Anaia (Mallory Johnson), known as “the quiet one,” is the sweet, naive, and shy one. Both sisters have had a rough life, after surviving a catastrophic fire during their childhood, which nearly killed their mother (Vivica A. Fox), and left the sisters heavily scarred. When the women get called to their mother’s deathbed, before she dies, she reveals that their father (Sterling K. Brown) is the one responsible for the fire.
Writer/director Alesha Harris makes a fantastic debut. One can clearly see how the material works well as a stage play, but it also works quite well as a feature film. Harris imbues her movie adaptation with her unique style and voice. The development of the twin sisters is compelling, so the movie plays out more like a morality parable rather than a simple, violent, exploitation film. Harris also does an exceptional job of incorporating dark, satirical humor in some of the scenes.
The movie features an outstanding cast: lead actors Kara Young and Mallori Johnson shine, Erika Alexander delivers an uproarious turn as Divine The Healer, and Vivica A. Fox, Mykelti Williamson, and Janelle Monae provide strong support. Sterling K. Brown stands out with an incendiary, hateful performance as the twins’ abusive father, the target of their vengeance.
Is God Is is now in Theaters, and I highly recommend this remarkable revenge flick. Fans of the play and newcomers alike will love it. I look forward to seeing what Aleshea Harris does next in cinema.