I ain’t even gonna front… Is God Is wasn’t really on my radar like that. I had never heard of the play it was adapted from, didn’t know much about the story, and honestly, I just happened to scroll past it. But the cast caught my attention — Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monáe, Mykelti Williamson, Sterling K. Brown — and I was like, “Alright, let me see what this is about.”
And I’m glad I did, because Is God Is is one of those movies that starts off feeling a little strange, maybe even a little darkly funny in spots… but then it gets real, real fast.
The story follows twin sisters Racine and Anaia, played by Kara Young and Mallori Johnson. These two are on a mission to find their father — the man responsible for burning down their family home in an attempt to kill his wife and daughters. Their mother is dying, and before she goes, she sends her daughters on a revenge mission. And from there, the movie turns into this wild revenge story about trauma and what happens when hurt gets passed down like an inheritance.
Kara Young as Racine, “the rough one,” was a problem. Racine is a real crashout. She’s the twin that’s ready to fight first and ask questions never. She carries herself like somebody who has had to be tough her whole life, and Kara Young brings that. She’s reckless, she’s funny at times and somehow still human underneath all of that rage.
Mallori Johnson as Anaia, “the quiet one,” gives a much more internal performance, but it hits just as hard. Anaia is clearly the sister who was damaged by the fire the most — physically, emotionally, mentally. She’s self-conscious, timid, and you can tell she’s been living in Racine’s shadow for a long time. But what I liked is that the movie doesn’t make her weak. She’s just hurt. And there’s a difference. She may be quiet.. but she’s carrying a whole storm inside her, twin.
Now let’s talk about Sterling K. Brown. Man… Sterling understood the assignment. He plays the father — or really, the monster — with this calm, scary kind of crazy. He’s not over-the-top in a cartoon villain way. He’s worse than that. He’s composed. He’s charming when he wants to be. He’s evil in a way that feels way too believable. And that’s what makes him so hateable. By the time you really sit with what he did to this family, you want the twins to find him too.
The movie definitely has hints of comedy, but don’t go into it thinking this is light. It might make you laugh for a second, but then it’ll punch you in the chest right after. The tone is different. It’s weird in a good way. It feels like a revenge thriller, a dark comedy, a family tragedy, and a stage play all mixed together.
And the cinematography? Fire. I loved the camera angles, the way certain shots were framed, and how the placement of people and objects made scenes feel more intense. Every shot felt intentional. Like, this is not one of those movies where the camera is just there to record what’s happening. The camera is part of the storytelling. Certain scenes feel uncomfortable because they’re supposed to. Certain shots linger because they want you to sit in that tension.
Overall, Is God Is is a good watch. It’s not gonna be for everybody, because it’s dark.. and kinda strange at times. But if you like movies that take big swings, if you like revenge stories with deeper meaning, and if you appreciate performances where actors really go there, this one is worth checking out.
Racine and Anaia’s journey is messy, painful, and intense, but that’s the point. This is a story about what trauma does to a family, what revenge can cost, and how sometimes the person you’re hunting isn’t just a man — he’s the root of everything that broke you.
I’m giving Is God Is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Great cast, strong performances, beautiful cinematography, and Sterling K. Brown made me hate that man with my whole chest. That’s acting right there, twin.