In Mercy, a man accused of murder must prove his innocence to a non-human judge.
Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) is a police detective whose primary task is sending murderers to the Mercy Court. The new judicial system relies on A.I. to conduct a trial, analyse evidence and determine guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Raven is on trial for his wife’s murder, which occurred less than 24 hours ago. He must prove to A.I. Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) that he’s innocent within 90 minutes or face execution.
With a runtime of 100 minutes, this film unfolds in real time. The countdown in the corner of the screen creates a sense of urgency, even when it’s not clearly visible. It’s an effective and relatable device that generates slowly mounting pressure.
Ferguson delivers an excellent performance as the A.I. She begins predictably detached. However, as Raven’s search for the killer challenges the computer’s certainty and ability to calculate probability, Maddox’s expressions contort.
But effective gimmicks and good acting can’t improve the predictable story and surreal concept. In a not-so-distant future, a government mandate states citizens must save all their personal and business information to “the cloud.” It’s “Big Brother” on the information superhighway. Yet, the “who” in this whodunit isn’t much of a mystery as the puzzle pieces fall into place at a nearly impossible pace.
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Starring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson and Kali Reis
