Humorist Josh Billings once wrote, “There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.” Yeah, okay…but show me someone who doesn’t enjoy a good revenge flick now and again and I’ll show you someone whose life is devoid of joy…and spicy food…and novelty socks…and sex with the lights on. Sure, in real life, revenge seldom works out the way we want it to, but in movies? Sometimes there’s nothing more satisfying than swift violent payback.
Of course, the inherent problem with the subgenre is there are a finite number of scenarios, meaning we tend to see variations of the same story over and over again. And if done well, I’m generally cool with that. After all, who goes to an AC/DC concert hoping to hear a ballad? Still, I always appreciate one that tries to do something unique with the formula. With the awkwardly titled Is God Is, first-time writer-director Aleshea Harris has made a Tarantinoesque revenge film that's both rousing and bittersweet.
Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson) are twins who were disfigured during childhood and raised in numerous foster homes. As adults, all they really have is each other. When unexpectedly summoned by their dying mother (Vivica A. Fox), who they thought was already dead, they see that she, too, bears similar scars. She then reveals how they all ended up this way: Years earlier, their father set her on fire, and the two girls suffered burns trying to save her. Worse yet, their father got away with it thanks to a fast talking lawyer.
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| Sometimes you gotta dance like the entire state of Tennessee is watching. |
The middle act is an episodic journey to find him. While this stretch is sometimes a little pokey, the sisters have some amusing encounters with Dad’s old acquaintances. In fact, the film is often pretty damn funny, due to how well-realized the two protagonists are…so in-tune with each other that they’re able to carry on conversations without speaking (the subtitles are a clever touch). There’s also conflict between them, largely because of their opposing views over the quest they’ve undertaken. We get the impression this is the first time they don’t see eye to eye. But their unconditional love for each other is very clear, which endears us to them.
I won’t reveal anything that transpires after they do finally find their father (Sterling K. Brown) and his new family (including Janelle Monae as his wife, who might also be suffering from abuse). However, I will say that Harris delivers a wild, violent and emotionally-charged finale. Whether or not it’s a satisfying ending depends on what viewers expect from their revenge flicks, but I appreciated how it made me feel.
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