We see a lot of films about monsters. Usually, they are supernatural and terrifying creatures that wreak havoc on all those who cross their path. And while the supernatural monsters are terrifying, it’s the everyday monsters that ruin lives that might be the most traumatizing.

That’s certainly something Alesha Harris understands. She’s the writer and director behind the new drama Is God Is, which opened May 15. It’s based on her 2018 play of the same name and it’s a monster story. It’s not supernatural, but it’s about hunting a monster all the same.

The film centers on twins—Racine (Cara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson)—who have a deep bond and a rough history. They both carry scars—mentally and physically—from a broken childhood. Their father (Sterling K. Brown) was a vicious man, an everyday monster. And he wreaked havoc on their lives, burning their mother and them when they were young.

Now young adults, the arc of their lives has been changed. The physical burns have made them outcasts and the mental scars have stunted their ability to engage with the world in a healthy way. When they get a letter from their mother (Vivica A. Fox), who is still alive though badly injured, they hope to get some closure.

Instead, she tells them the horrifying tale of the night their lives all changed. As she’s dying, she has a final request for her girls—find and kill their father. It sets Racine and Anaia on a quest that will change their lives.

This is a unique story. Harris pours a lot into crafting this journey and the wild characters they meet along the way. It’s a sensational cast, which includes Janelle Monae, Erika Alexander, and Mykelti Williamson as people they meet on the journey. In some ways it’s a road movie. In some ways it’s about the events and people that shape our lives. But, mostly, it’s a revenge tale.

By the time we get to the wild third act, things get really interesting. It’s violent and chaotic. And it takes the story in some unexpected ways as it wraps up. It’s haunting and emotional at times, featuring some incredible work from Johnson, Young, and Brown.

I enjoyed the film for what it is. Harris has a unique vision in adapting this unique story to the screen. It feels unlike characters or a world I’d seen before, and she makes some interesting narrative choices. I really enjoyed some of the sequences and the way it all comes to a head with Brown at the end.

That being said, not all of it worked for me. I had a few questions that went unanswered. And some of the violence felt abrupt before we settle into the final sequence. I like the film and I like the creativity, but there were points that felt disjointed in the middle.

Still, this is an original and creative film. If you’re looking for a different kind of monster tale, it’s worth checking out Is God Is.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.