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Published 17:29 20 Aug 2026 BST
Updated 17:29 20 Aug 2026 BST

The movie is the debut feature from writer-director Aleshea Harris, who adapted her own play of the same name for the screen.
The story follows twin sisters Anaia (Mallori Johnson) and Racine (Kara Young), who were left scarred by a fire started by their father (Sterling K. Brown) when they were children. Now adults, the pair are summoned by their estranged mother, nicknamed 'God' (played by Vivica A. Fox), who is on her deathbed.
God requests that her daughters kill their also estranged dad so that she can know peace before she dies. This leads the sisters on an "epic quest for revenge, confronting a charged family history that pushes them to extraordinary lengths".
Also featuring Janelle Monae in its cast, Is God Is was released in cinemas in the United States last May, where the movie earned rave reviews. Critics in particular praised the film's blend of genres, its performances, its style, and its weighty themes.
You can read a sample of these glowing write-ups below:
Boston Globe: "[Is God Is] has the aura of Greek tragedy and the darkest heart of neo-noir. Its soul is an unapologetic howl of Black female rage represented by the superb lead performances of Kara Young and Mallori Johnson."
Indiewire: "By the time Is God Is reaches its electric conclusion, the filmmaker-turned-genre god delivers the rare kind of catharsis that can only come from a hideous tale told with complete confidence."
Mashable: "Is God Is delivers filmmaking that is so mythic, mesmerising, and menacing that it's easily one of the best movies of 2026."
NPR: "Harris' vision as a first-time filmmaker is crystal clear, and Is God Is already feels timeless, like a parable that could have been written decades ago, and will be handily passed down as pointed social critique for decades to come."
San Francisco Chronicle: "Visually mesmerising, lyrical and with a unique cadence, Is God Is is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s angry and yet imbued with wry, fatalistic humour."
Slate: "The film is a tour de force that perfectly blends Afro-Surrealism, humour, and gritty drama."
Time Magazine: "Is God Is is fanciful and brutal, sometimes simultaneously, taking a page or two from Tarantino’s Kill Bill."
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While Is God Is did not get a cinema release in the UK and Ireland, it has just been added to Prime Video.
Explore more on these topics:
Prime Video has quietly added Is God Is to its service, a 2026 revenge thriller with a whopping 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

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