Saturday, January 24, 2026
Mercy
In the near future, crime has exploded & criminals are clogging up the justice system. A new advanced Artificial Intelligence MERCY Court Algorithm Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) controls the justice system as judge, jury, & executioner giving prisoners just 90 minutes to defend themselves using any system files, film footages, & phone calls to individuals. Police officer Raven (Chris Pratt) wakes up strapped into a chair & accused of killing his wife. This plays out like your typical crime action plot with the defendant looking more guilty as the evidence is revealed. Of course, as the plot thickens the real truths are revealed. The gimmick here is that all the film audiences sees is display images of the guilty-as-charged-until-proven-innocent desperate defendant, the unemotional impartial judge, & incessant film footages flashed before our faces.This typically decent plot line feels very impersonal & chaotic until the defendant breaks loose to play an active part of his defense. It is a ludicrous premise that sets up defendants at a disadvantage without any legal consul nor experience in how to properly prove themselves innocent with the clock ticking. Fortunately, Raven is a cop & at least has some investigating experience. I️ saw no point to screening this film in 3D nor at this IMAX theater. I️ give the filmmakers an A for effort but a D for disastrous film display. This was an unsatisfying experience & experiment.
Alien gives it 2 “flawed system” stars out of 4.
