Aleshea Harris is stepping into the director’s chair with Is God Is, the film adaptation of her acclaimed stage play. The revenge thriller is led by Kara Young and Mallori Johnson, and follows two sisters on a violent journey through a haunting family history, blending Southern Gothic, Western and dark comedy influences into one striking vision.
While Harris always planned to adapt the story for the screen herself, directing the film wasn’t initially part of the plan. But with encouragement from producer Janicza Bravo, Harris embraced the opportunity to fully bring her world to life onscreen. Now, stars like Young, Johnson, Janelle Monáe, Erika Alexander and Vivica A. Fox are praising Harris’ singular voice and creative vision as she makes her feature directorial debut.
Aleshea Harris says directing ‘Is God Is’ felt ‘inevitable’
Harris explained that adapting the language of her original play for film was always deeply personal to her.
“So I always knew that I wanted to write the adaptation. That was a given,” she said. “I absolutely needed to be the person who took that language and turned it into new language that would amount to this story.”
But directing the film came after encouragement from producer Janicza Bravo.
“In terms of directing, I had not thought about it until Janicza Bravo, one of the producers said, ‘This is your story. You should direct it,’” Harris recalled. “There was no kicking and screaming from me. It was immediate, ‘Yeah.’ Of course, it felt inevitable and it felt organic and right to my journey.”
She added that the support from the producing team and studio helped make the transition seamless.
“So luckily I had Janicza’s support, support from the other producers in the studio, and I was able to direct them,” she said.
Erika Alexander calls Harris ‘proof of life’
Alexander said Harris’ work is a reminder that visionary Black women creators have always existed, even if the industry has historically overlooked them.
“She’s proof of life,” Alexander said. “It’s not because it’s not there. People are doing that all the time. They’re just underfunded. They’re underestimated and they’re disrespected.”
Alexander continued, “We need to now, knowing that this type of talent out there, this life-changing talent to us all, she just happens to be Black and a woman, is out there in fun, creative geniuses that are in this century.”
The actor also reflected on the importance of working alongside fellow Black women creatives.
“So I’m glad to be in this film,” she said. “But again, I’m a person that believes that avatars of the future exist now.”
Vivica A. Fox praises Harris’ confidence as a first-time director
Fox said she immediately felt respected and valued when Harris approached her about joining the project.
“[It was] a complete honor for me,” Fox said. “When I was contacted with the offer, she was like, ‘You’re my first and only choice.’ I said, ‘Well, okay.’”
Fox noted that Harris’ confidence stood out from the start.
“Because we normally have to jump through hoops sometimes,” she said. “So the respect that came through and then the professionalism that came through when working with her, that it was undeniable that she knew exactly what she was doing and how she was going to do it, which I found to be completely refreshing for a first-time director.”
Janelle Monáe says Harris has created her own cinematic language
Monáe described Harris as an auteur with a distinct artistic voice.
“I think you’re witnessing the genius of an auteur and to be a part of their first is like, ‘We’ll always be able to say that,’” Monáe said.
She added that Harris’ ability to create a unique tone and language within the film impressed her most.
“For this to be her first coming out the gate with a wild ride, a Southern Gothic Western, it is an original film to me,” Monáe said. “I think that what Aleshea has done is she has put the human experience in such a poetic way.”
“Like if Shakespeare had a language, Aleshea Harris has a language, a tone,” she continued. “That’s one of the hardest things as a musician, as a vocalist, as a writer, to find your tone as a director, to find your tone. I think that she’s hit it on the mark.”
Monáe also praised the film for showcasing the complexity and range of Black women onscreen.
“And for us to be able to also showcase the range of archetypes of Black women, like girls, that’s important,” she said. “Because there’s a lot of times where we don’t get to see us in our mess, in our joy, in our pain, in our freedom and in our revenge.”
Directed and written by Aleshea Harris, Is God Is is based on Harris’ award-winning play of the same name.