Screenlife movies are honestly kind of addictive once you get into them. Everything is shown through phone screens, laptops, and security cams, and it feels super real and pulls you in like you’re right there with the characters. I recently watched Mercy, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson in lead roles. But did it actually hit hard? Here are my thoughts!
Plot Of Mercy
The story takes us to Los Angeles in 2029 where crime is everywhere and people are fed up with it. Therefore, the government announces Mercy Capital Court, which is basically an AI judge that decides if the suspect is guilty or not with the phone’s data, videos and other things. Chris Pratt plays Detective Chris Raven, a cop who actually helped create the system. Irony? One morning he wakes up strapped to a chair in the Mercy courtroom, super hungover, and is being accused of killing his own wife. But the problem is, he has zero memory of it. Like, nothing.
However, he has to prove that he didn’t do it with the help of surveillance videos, texts and other data while the AI clock is ticking down. Further, he becomes terrified that he might actually be guilty. But is he? No spoilers!
Performances
Chris Pratt is the best part, hands down. You definitely buy that he’s heartbroken and freaking out. Even when he’s just staring at a screen looking destroyed, it hits you. Rebecca Ferguson is great too and always feels real and intense. Even in this screen-only format, their acting carries a lot of weight. The rest of the cast are good but they don’t get much to do and are mostly just there to move the story along.
Verdict: This Ai Thriller Has A Cool Concept But No Actual Tension
The film lightly touches on the questions we talk about now, like Can AI be trusted with life-or-death decisions? What happens when the system doesn’t work properly? Or when humans use it to cover their own mistakes? It is not deep, but it makes you think for a second. However, the writing feels half-baked.
The twists are either too easy to spot or come out of nowhere with weak explanations. When the big revelations happen, it doesn’t blow your mind. Instead, it feels sloppy and unnecessary. Visually it’s fun to watch because of the format. But eventually it loses its charm.
Also Read: Marty Supreme Review: Timothée Chalamet Starrer Intense Sports Drama Exceeds Expectations And How!
So, what’s the bottom line? Mercy isn’t terrible, but it’s not great either. On paper it sounds really good because it has a massive star, screenlife style and courtroom drama. In reality, it just doesn’t hit you.
The mystery isn’t that mysterious, and the ending felt like they didn’t prepare well and threw in whatever they could have. But not to forget, Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson save it from being boring, but even they can’t make it an amazing thriller.
So, if you’re into screenlife movies or you just want to go out and watch something, you can give it a try because it’s watchable. You won’t hate it. But if you are craving a really gripping mystery or mind-blowing twists, you can skip this one.
It’s currently running in theatres!