Is God Is: Aleshea Harris Makes a Bloody Film-Director Debut

By Elizabeth Paige Richardson | May 14, 2026 | Celebrity & Culture

Kara Young and Mallori Johnson in Is God Is

From the stage to the screen, Is God Is packs a thrilling punch.

Director Aleshea Harris brings the loud, unapologetic adaptation of her critically acclaimed play to audiences on May 15.

The trailers tell us all we need to know: two twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) are sent on a quest for revenge against their abusive father, ready to throw down with anyone that gets in their way and shed a whole lot of blood. We’re especially hyped for Harris’ debut film to grace theaters as one of the rare Black-women-led casts in the genre. Bonus points for the Dirty South aesthetic and soundtrack.

What really sells us on this being a theater-worthy watch is the stacked cast that Harris pulled together to translate her story for the cameras. Even our favorite hero from Hulu’s Paradise, Sterling K. Brown, transforms into something menacing—the Monster. Then there’s the star-studded roster of characters, including Vivica A. Fox, Janelle Monáe, and Erika Alexander. The twin leads themselves nail the balance between sinister and sweet to weave the complex story of trauma, anger and self-preservation that bagged the original play a Relentless Award.

If you’re in the mood for something unflinching and unsettling that will totally have you in your feelings by the end, Is God Is should be on your weekend radar.