Published March 2, 2026
BY JOHANNA MELTON
Despite its creative, thought-provoking concept, jaw-dropping plot twists and strong acting from stars Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, “Mercy” falls flat, turning what could’ve been a classic sci-fi cautionary tale into a dizzying, indecisive story bereft of unique flair.
The Timur Bekmambetov movie follows Los Angeles Police Department officer and detective Chris Raven (Pratt), who has been framed for the murder of his wife, Nicole Raven (Annabelle Wallis), in a futuristic world where due to rising crime rates and overflowing jails in LA, an AI-powered justice system called Mercy has been invented, acting as judge, jury and executioner for those accused of extreme crimes. Strapped to a chair with little to no memory of how he got there, Chris is given 90 minutes to prove himself innocent to AI Judge Maddox (Ferguson), using the extensive online resources that Mercy provides, yet with the clock ticking down and his life on the line, Chris ends up uncovering a whole other scandal, previously thought to be a closed case.
Mercy contains impressive acting and fast-paced action scenes, yet lacks uniqueness and a moral. Courtesy of SONY PICTURES UK
Following a slow beginning, the story picks up, making for a highly entertaining and enjoyable build to the climax with a realization so earth-shattering it changes one’s entire perspective of the investigation. Even with nearly the entire film taking place in one room, it fits insane amounts of action into the watching experience, following along with different outside characters such as his daughter, Britt (Kylie Rogers) and police partner Jaqueline “Jaq” Diallo (Kali Reis), over a video call feature allowed to the accused.
Pratt does a great job of making the viewer feel as if they themselves are strapped into their own chair, racing against the clock. As his character goes from feelings of confusion to disbelief to panic, so does the viewer, mouths staying agape as a rollercoaster of plot twists play out before them.
While these elements make for a fun watching experience, the ending provides an uncertain message, refusing to take a clear stance on AI. Especially in a time where AI is such a divisive and relevant issue, art that discusses the topic shouldn’t keep a cloudy opinion on it.
The portrayal of Chris’ daughter is also incredibly detached from today’s teenagers, made into a stereotypical vaping, Instagram-addicted Gen Zer, when she could have been a strong, relatable and likeable character, if only she were written without exaggerated “kids these days” traits.
The point of the film seems watered down and murky, leaving the viewer dissatisfied after the screen goes dark, and while making for an entertaining watch, it doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the ongoing AI struggle in today’s culture.
6/10
