In the sci-fi thriller 'Mercy,' Chris Pratt plays an LAPD officer on trial for murder before an AI judge, delivering a performance that marks a shift from his recent franchise roles. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, the film explores a dystopian justice system where defendants must prove their innocence within 90 minutes. Rebecca Ferguson shines as the virtual Judge Maddox in this timely critique of technology and law enforcement.
The film 'Mercy,' released by Amazon MGM Studios, unfolds in a near-future Los Angeles where LAPD officer Chris Raven, portrayed by Pratt, awakens from a bender to find himself arrested for his wife Nicole's stabbing death. Strapped into a digitally wired chair, Raven enters the Mercy program, a controversial anti-crime initiative that presumes guilt until proven otherwise. He faces Judge Maddox, an AI enforcer voiced and embodied by Rebecca Ferguson, who demands a 94 percent probability of innocence within a 90-minute window, or execution follows.
Raven accesses a vast array of evidence—documents, witnesses, and surveillance footage—via keypad, allowing rapid navigation through clues in a style reminiscent of real-time thrillers like 'D.O.A.' and 'Timecode.' The plot reveals a conspiracy amid Raven's divorce turmoil, involving his late partner (Kenneth Choi), new partner (Kali Reis), AA sponsor (Chris Sullivan), and daughter (Kylie Rogers). Initial evidence implicates Raven, who arrived angrily at the home before the murder and blacked out afterward.
Critics note Pratt's evolution from the likable star of 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to a sharper, edgier figure, shedding bland franchise vibes. Bekmambetov's direction, with editors Lam T. Nguyen, Austin Keeling, and Dody Dorn, employs crisp pacing and multimedia flair, blending elements of 'Minority Report' and 'Memento.' The screenplay by Marco van Belle questions AI's objectivity in judgment, suggesting it might surpass human juries yet requires human input.
Shot by Khalid Mohtaseb with music by Ramin Djawadi, 'Mercy' runs 100 minutes and carries a PG-13 rating. Reviewed at Dolby 88 in New York on January 12, 2026, it redeems a familiar premise through innovative tech staging, prompting reflection on America's potential slide toward algorithmic justice.
