The KVI crew recently caught an early screening of Mercy, the new near-future thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson. Set in a world where artificial intelligence plays judge and jury, the film follows a detective accused of murdering his wife who has 90 minutes to prove his innocence before an AI system he once supported decides his fate.
While Mercy earns points for originality and ambition, the execution falls short. Much of the film centers on Pratt’s character restrained in a chair for nearly the entire runtime, a demanding setup that relies heavily on a single performance. Unfortunately, Pratt struggles to fully disappear into the role, often pulling viewers out of the story. Casting choices—including a distracting Parks and Recreation reunion moment—further undermine the film’s serious tone. Rebecca Ferguson delivers a solid performance as the AI judge, but the movie’s overreliance on convenient futuristic technology and unnecessary 3D effects makes the experience feel more gimmicky than gripping.
In the end, Mercy is a creative concept that doesn’t quite stick the landing. The story is intriguing enough to spark curiosity, but questionable casting, dizzying visuals, and an overly convenient sci-fi world prevent it from reaching its full potential. It’s a bold swing from Amazon/MGM, but one that ultimately misses more than it hits.
Listen to the full review below:
