In the new crime thriller ‘Mercy’, the justice system has lost all humanity. The trial process for capital crimes in future Los Angeles is run by an AI system called Mercy. LA detective Chris Raven, (played by Chris Pratt), wakes up at his own Mercy court murder trial before AI judge Maddox, (played by Rebecca Ferguson). Detective Raven, a strong advocate for the Mercy system, has 90 minutes to prove his innocence before he’s convicted of killing his wife Nicole (played by Annabelle Wallis) and is automatically executed. Raven engages his partner, Jaq (played by Kali Reis), in his search for proof as she investigates the crime. Screen life filming helps bring the action outside the eerily empty courtroom in. While Reis’s role has most of the action in Mercy, her character motivations are unclear. Pratt’s role has potential for emotional depth, as he spends most of the movie trapped in a lethal chair being unfairly judged, but it doesn’t manifest and both come off underwhelming.
At best, Mercy is a thought provoking movie about AI in the LA justice system, especially when the technology has an outsized role. Mercy is predictable and the plot lacks originality. A cop accused of a crime has to use the resources of the cutting edge crime deterring system he knows and loves to clear his name is also the plot of the 2002 action-thriller movie Minority Report. The film is not all bad, though. Rebecca Ferguson’s performance as AI Judge Maddox is more engaging, although the writing makes it tough at times. Maddox can define myriad human emotions, but asks the definition of a common word. Maddox does experience some character growth. It’s under explored, but still offers warnings about the fallibility of technology, overdependence on AI, and declining respect for humanity.
Mercy relies on screen life style filming, bringing together video clips, live video, and images from computers and mobile devices into the story telling. Like the 2023 action thriller ‘Missing’, about a teen using technology to investigate the disappearance of her missing mother, this style works to heighten action and suspense. The filming style is a mercy for this movie. Despite being jarring at times and not the best iteration of the style, it may be Mercy’s most interesting element. Mercy does consider contemporary questions about AI; What use is moral? How much can we rely on AI to make important social decisions? Does constant surveillance really make society safer?
Viewers can already ponder, in fascination and or fear, society’s dependence on AI in more industries, and in day-to-day life without the meager contributions of this film. This movie is in theaters January 23rd. I rate the film a (2/4) 🍿
Interviews from Director and Cast Members:
