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‘Is God Is’ Opens to Strong Reviews for Aleshea Harris’s Audacious Film Debut

Critics highlight a genre-blending revenge tale centered on Black women’s anger.

Overview

  • The film, which opened in U.S. theaters Friday, drew strong praise for Harris’s first feature and for breakout leads Kara Young and Mallori Johnson.
  • Adapted from Harris’s 2018 award-winning play, the story follows twin sisters sent by their dying mother on a quest to confront the father who once tried to kill their family.
  • Reviews note a vivid mix of Southern Gothic, grindhouse road movie, and surreal touches, with nods to Kill Bill and O Brother, Where Art Thou.
  • Industry champions Tessa Thompson and Janicza Bravo helped move the project forward, and Beyoncé approved a song for the trailer that boosted visibility.
  • Coverage emphasizes themes of generational trauma and Black women’s rage, with critics saying the film’s cathartic approach could shape wider conversations about violence and agency.