The sci-fi thriller film Mercy was released into theaters on January 23rd. The movie follows a detective, played by Chris Pratt, who must prove his innocence within 90 minutes after being accused of murdering his wife. Set during a near-future in Los Angeles, this movie explores themes of addiction, morality, and the blurred lines between humanity and technology. Chris Pratt portrays the lead role in a compelling performance as a man with his own demons while trying to uncover the truth.
The movie, in my opinion, was overwhelming and the plot was filled with logical inconsistencies. The 90 minute time frame makes a murder investigation seem absurd within such a short period. The AI judge concept is poorly explored as it was unbelievable that an AI judge would look so robotic when AI is supposed to mimic real people which contributed to an underwhelming watch. Additionally, the AI judge was disturbingly shallow and controversial in its portrayal of the justice system. An AI judge is not supposed to make mistakes, yet the story hinges on the AI being manipulated.
Many viewers found the film was miserable to watch as well, but there are always those who found it oddly irresistible. Although Mercy created tension it attempted a small emotional connection that felt uneven, which made it difficult to stay fully engaged with the story. Mercy was filled with plot holes and predictability, relying heavily on a thin script that requires significant suspension of disbelief.
The movie was described as an airless techno-thriller that didn’t measure up to its potential. In my opinion I found the AI-driven, high-octane, single location setting to be suspenseful. Other reviewers found it to be tedious, negligent, and the worst of the genre. These criticisms are reflected by the film’s box office under performance, garnering roughly $54.7 million worldwide, compared to its $60 million production budget.
