Is God Is Blu-ray Review

Transforming the classic western into a contemporary story of domestic abuse and fiery revenge, Is God Is wraps itself in tension, relieves it with humor, then turns toward uncomfortable violence to make its point. Newcomer Aleshea Harris writes/directs with absolute confidence in her form, bringing a distinctive voice to a grindhouse-infused road trip genre movie.

Harris has a secret weapon – two of them actually – in stars Kara Young and Mallori Johnson, twins sent on a quest by their dying mother to kill their outrageously villainous father. Young and Mallori play these twins with an exactness that feels natural rather than practiced, and still develops into individuals, with Racine (Young) being a reckless, aggressive firebrand and Anaia (Johnson) the reserved, quiet one. Their familial conflicts and disagreements come off as authentic, and their increasingly unstable mental status drives tension. Is God Is is so wound, that when it snaps, it does so with unmerciful rage.

Is God Is sustains itself on slowly bubbling confrontation

Numerous conversations between Racine and Anaia discuss the morals of their situation, laying out the reality and consequences of revenge as any grand western would. It’s not new. There’s a reason the concept is readily labeled a western, but Is God Is successfully morphs the traditional form into something that digests easier in the modern era. The plight of women in dangerous, inescapable circumstances, the violence of weak men, the failures of the foster care system, and society’s general cruelty toward anyone different all work into this script seamlessly.

Is God Is takes it time. What can be said for director Harris is her ability to build and sustain tension is marvelous. Patience is rare in cinema anymore, but Is God Is sustains itself on slowly bubbling confrontation, and even beforehand as the girls begin their road trip. Their encounters with a lawyer, priest, and others are eccentric; the creativity in those bit parts appreciates the absurdity being witnessed by the twins, even acknowledging as much through carefully edited facial expressions, then lets the violence exist only in reality. It’s brutal, sometimes kept off screen intelligently for effect, but ensuring a splattering of blood is in frame.

For a movie that exists in a perpetually angry, even furious state, it’s not without charm. Before revenge consumes their personalities, the twins are a delight, finding a way to exist in a world that despises them, but they have each other. The eventual tragedy of Is God Is’ climax is all the more potent because of that introductory act, not to mention the quiet spectacle that’s sandwiched between.

Hyper colorful, the rich saturation is splendid. Is God Is flushes with bold, warm primaries for an endlessly attractive, consistent palette. It’s intense, with flesh tones vivid. Flashbacks take on a grand sepia tone.

Outstanding black levels drive home depth. Shadows have stellar density, especially for a Blu-ray. There’s a rich contrast too, driven partly by sunlight, but really, any light source.

The digital cinematography offers outstanding clarity, no noise, and no compression, just clear, unobstructed HD imagery. Flashbacks hold a small artificial grain, but the encode is more than up to it. Detail looks superb, with a high resolution source that draws out texture on every surface, and facial detail in close. Actually, the camera doesn’t even need to be that close; Is God Is keeps the fidelity flowing. There’s nothing wrong here – it’s outstanding.

A 5.1 mix in DTS-HD, Is God Is features a thumping soundtrack. Bass proves potent, notable, and balanced, if used sparingly.

Surrounds don’t handle much. It’s a front-loaded affair with a small stereo split, and occasional drift into the rears from the score/music. It’s functional, but limited, with no genuine problems beyond a fairly listless extension into the rears.

Nothing.

Full disclosure: This Blu-ray was provided to us for review. This has not affected the editorial process. For information on how we handle review material, please visit our about us page to learn more.