Mercy Review: An overhated, relevant screen-life flick
I was pretty hyped about Mercy! The premise sounded cool, the trailer wasn't half-bad (although many would beg to differ), and the cast was decent. However, the bad reviews quickly followed, and all my friends, save one, said the movie was pretty terrible. So, I crossed my fingers, hoping this would be one of those movies I'd have a hot take about. Did it cut through for me, or did it just fall to the wayside? That's what I, Brighton Nelson of The Reel Ranker, will discuss in today's review. Thanks so much for joining me here on the site, and I hope you enjoy this article!
Per usual, I'll begin with the negatives, then move into the positives. Firstly, the film has a sterile story to it that wasn't my favorite. It felt like there wasn't much grit to the investigation, considering it was a murder trial. The story that moves the plot forward is so often just bland. This isn't helped by the fact that it felt like Chris Pratt was phoning it in throughout the duration of the film. I like Chris Pratt just fine—which, for some reason, seems to be a hot take these days—and I think the hate is absolutely ridiculous, but that doesn't mean he was great in this movie.
Another questionable choice was to advertise the flick as an IMAX experience. With a moniker like that, you expect a little more action, cinematographic flair, and notable sound design. Unfortunately, there's almost nothing happening here except two people talking in a room and scrolling videos, which is harder to buy into when your lead feels like he's just there for a paycheck (or, perhaps, the director didn't do enough takes).
All that being said, I still absolutely believe this is a good movie and think the hate is massively overblown. While a little bit squandered in its execution, the idea of a near-dystopian future where the justice system is run by AI was an awesome premise, and one that carries themes that feel very real and applicable to modern-day society. The film rests on how much mileage you can get out of that concept, and as someone who loves it, I got enough of what I was hoping for here. I really liked how the climax portrayed the strengths and weaknesses of AI, as it's never quite been a black-or-white situation, as fantastically displayed by the soon-to-be-wide-released AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist. The film may feel superficial or offensive to those who are completely anti-AI or pro-AI; for us in the middle, it can be quite a compelling narrative to tackle.
The film also does a great job with its ticking time bomb element, and it really had a tension to it. I know people joke that "the timer is great because it tells the audience when the film will be over", but I really liked the real-time element and how it took me back to the show 24 or, more recently, The Pitt.
I also loved the film's futuristic aesthetic. I called the film's tone and story sterile earlier, and I'd also say the same about its aesthetic, but as a positive. The overly plain, technological look was honestly spooky in a "this might be where humanity goes soon" kind of way. While sending it to IMAX may have been a little ridiculous, even for a January release, I do think the imagery is cool, if overly claustrophobic.
The last thing of note is Rebecca Furgeson's performance. A lot of critics in the space have said she's wasted her time and ability here, or that any actor could've played this role, but I'm strongly compelled to disagree. She does an awesome job of feeling robotic and unfeeling, yet also a bit human. I used Claude AI to help me with various tasks, from overcoming writer's block to sorting data in ways a typical A-Z format in Google Sheets won't allow.
AI can be more than just a complete waste of space, even if the cost of producing it is inane. I think Ferguson's performance here captures both that air of controversial usefulness and a light humanity, rather than just straight roboticness. Some might not like the uncanny humanity on display, but after all, AI is fueled and created by human effort, and some "emotion" carries over, as stupid and problematic as that sounds. I think Ferguson does a good job of balancing the multifaceted nature of AI.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 62%
Letter Score: C+
Star Ranking: 3 out of 5
Mercy may have a thin plot, a lack of innovation, and a phoned-in lead performance. Yet, it's got enough with its socioculturally relevant premise, its holistic look at AI captured through Rebecca Ferguson's performance, and its dystopian elements that I can't help but say it's a good enough, recommendable blockbuster.
Interested in checking out some recent reviews for sci-fi and thriller films? See them below!
Brighton Nelson
Brighton Nelson
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