If I Go Will They Miss Me (2026) – Review and Summary (Sundance)

If I Go Will They Miss Me is a layered question as a young man is tasked with not only being physically present, but really there for his wife and kids.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“If I Go Will They Miss Me” Film Details

Movie Summary

Anthony, as a teenager, was shy and artistic but made a major mistake. It cost him some years on his life, but luckily for him, JJ and Lozita held him down and his eventual three kids, Acacia, Lil Ant, and Trae. But, prison changes people, and while Anthony is able to get work, being an engaged father, supportive and loving partner? He struggles with that.

Which, with Lozita starting to stray away from the idea that kids need both parents in the household, it seems Anthony needs to shape up quick. Otherwise, he’ll lose one of the few things he has going for him.

Cast and Characters

Anthony (J. Alphonse Nicholson)

J. Alphonse Nicholson and Myles Bullock appear in If I Go Will They Miss Me by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Michael Fernandez.
  • Character Summary: Anthony isn’t a bad guy, but he has made multiple mistakes in life. The kind which have led him to go to jail. However, he does enough to show Lozita he makes an effort, including with their kids, so she sticks beside him.

Lozita (Danielle Brooks)

  • Character Summary: Lozita is Anthony’s wife, based on her mentioning scrubs in the movie, assumingly a nurse, and she has three kids. She’s also close to her mother and sibling, who are her greatest support when Anthony is unable, or sometimes unwilling, to do so.

JJ (Myles Bullock)

  • Character Summary: JJ is Anthony’s best friend from high school, pretty much the main person he hangs out with, who is also a father and tries to keep Anthony on the straight and narrow.

Acacia (Zaria Amiyah Kelley)

  • Character Summary: Acacia is Anthony and Lozita’s eldest and only daughter.

Lil Ant (Bodhi Jordan Dell)

Danielle Brooks and Bodhi Jordan Dell appear in If I Go Will They Miss Me by Walter Thompson-Hernandez, an official selection of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Michael Fernandez.
  • Character Summary: Lil Ant is Anthony and Lozita’s first son and Anthony’s namesake. He sees a lot of himself in his junior, and while it once led to a sense of pride, that pride has become fear, and sometimes resentment, as Lil Ant reminds Anthony of the highs and lows of his life.

Trae (Mark Lane III)

  • Character Summary: Trae is Antony and Lozita’s youngest child.

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

A Familiar Narrative Which Shows There Are Still Rooms To Explore [82/100]

If I Go Will They Miss Me can trigger memories of a lot of urban dramas. Be it last year’s Ricky, or even Boyz N The Hood. This isn’t to say it is generic by any means. However, with an abundance of movies like this focused on a man stunted by prison and a lack of proper guidance, the foundation of the movie is familiar.

However, Anthony’s story can feel unique despite its familiarity. From his marriage to Lozita, a complicated but specific relationship to each of his kids, having a paying job, and more, there isn’t anything generic here. Anthony is developed to have a unique story and act as a reminder that while your environment can set you up for certain paths, not all roads are well-worn to the point of being paved.

But I will admit, there are times when Anthony’s journey feels limited by what you can imagine Lil Ant knows, sees, and has experienced.

JJ – The Seldom Friend Seen Who Still Has Impact [84/100]

When it comes to JJ, it is recognized that he is Anthony’s best friend and the closest thing to family he has, outside of the family built with Lozita. But, for the majority of the movie, JJ is barely more notable than a chair or blanket drying on a clothesline. That is, until a scene where JJ holds Anthony accountable for how he treats Lil Ant.

That conversation, depending on how If I Go Will They Miss Me is released, could be one of those scenes often referenced. There is always talk of men holding other men accountable, but no one wants to be preached to. They don’t want a dramatic monologue about what they are doing wrong. They want that same care, patience, firm but assured tone they needed as a kid. The kind that makes it clear it is alright to be flawed and vulnerable, and despite what is being said, they aren’t losing the safety they may feel with that person.

JJ gives that and reminds you that even characters, or actors, who play small parts, all they need is for the writer to give them that one moment to make it clear they weren’t just cast to help fill a scene.

Seeing A Father As A Greek God Leaves Room For Flaws [86/100]

Making your parents into deities, idolizing them like they can’t do any wrong, is common. But what is unique and interesting about If I Go Will They Miss Me is they don’t stick to Abrahamic religions but goes to Greek Gods. With that, you get to see Lil Ant’s way of thinking, and it honestly may shock you that this isn’t more common for kids, even pre-teens, regarding how they see their parents.

In Abrahamic religions, God is perfect, and since your parents gave you life, they are your tangible Gods. But the thing about most gods in those types of faiths is that they don’t have a story. Their key person, who spread their gospel, does, but as for the actual deity? They generally do not.

But, in polytheistic belief systems, not only do Gods have stories, they have flaws. While not human, they are allowed to be complex and not have their disagreeable traits offloaded to some kind of evil counterpart. This makes Lil Ant equating his father to Poseidon feel notable, for he is saying his dad is powerful, beautiful, but is moody and has a notable temper. Yet, because he is flawed, it means he can be loved, for his worst days are not a summary of who he is, but what he is capable of when unable to be at his best.

Lozita’s Storyline Might Not Be The Focus, But It Isn’t Forgotten [83/100]

There is still, and for a long time may remain, a noticeable gap between coming-of-age stories between Black men and women, never mind urban tales that push women into being the mother, wife, or girlfriend. In some ways, Lozita does escape being pigeonholed. Anthony, and how he treats their kids, is part of the core of her character’s life. However, again, as much as certain storylines can be familiar, that doesn’t mean they are all handled the same way.

One of the things that really sticks out about Lozita’s storyline is how a part of her wants to be free from Anthony. Note, he isn’t physically abusive, doesn’t hold her hostage, but she is torn between who he was and who he is. She fell in love with the man who wrote sweet letters, made promises, and was oh so shy when they first started talking. That person has a hold on her.

So when there is a scene where Lozita is telling Anthony to let go, you realize it isn’t just about him physically trying to hold her, but also the mental and emotional hold he has on her. Lozita may have been someone who stuck beside him through, potentially, multiple prison stints, but it is unclear whether she can deal with the fact that Anthony’s life and development seemed to stop when he went to jail, as she continued to mature and grow up.

It, again, gives an interesting spin to a familiar tale and pushes you to understand the layers to the title If I Go Will They Miss Me.

On The Fence

But What About Trae? [75/100]

Lil Ant is Anthony’s first boy, and Acacia is his only girl. There is also Trae. It can be weird how these kids are handled at times. Each one has experienced Anthony’s absence, and each one wants their dad to be present in their life. However, only Lil Ant gets a notable spotlight.

Now, you could submit, the focus is on Lil Ant and how he felt since this is his story. However, even with acknowledging that a lot of what we see and hear is from Lil Ant’s point of view, it can be weird that maybe once, how Acacia could feel was mentioned. Then, with Trae, he is barely acknowledged, despite being the youngest and maybe knowing his father the least.

It’s really the only thing when it comes to If I Go Will They Miss Me that is worth questioning. But, it must be remembered that the title isn’t about Anthony dying and not being part of anyone’s life. It is about him physically, mentally, emotionally, not being there for any particular character, and whether it would matter. Including that rarely seen Trae.

Overall

Our Rating (82/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

If I Go Will They Miss Me reminds you that being familiar with a certain type of story doesn’t mean you can claim to know all. This film avoids being trauma porn, dwelling on gangs or drugs, and even preaching to those who live in urban areas. It’s a story about fatherhood, partnership, and community in ways that isn’t consistently shown. Thus leading to If I Go Will They Miss Me being the type of film you hope, when it finds a home, isn’t treated as content but worthy of a marketing budget.

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.