Timur Bekmambetov is known for his work on Night Watch and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and his latest film, Mercy, is an action crime drama. He directs the story written by Marco van Belle (Arthur & Merlin) and the screenplay may have some audience members shaking their heads if they are not prepared for the extreme number of visuals from the large amount of camera footage available. Why are there so many visuals provided? Think of the continued use of AI and humans working in the future from now in 2025.
Los Angeles is depicted as crime-ridden in 2029. To combat the crime level, according to lawmakers, a new system has been activated known as the Mercy Capital Court. This judicial system is powered by Artificial Intelligence and is authorized to be the judge, jury, and executioner. The accused have only 90 minutes to prove their innocence during a trial. They will be provided access to the city’s “Municipal Cloud”, allowing the person access to every camera, cell phone, and database.
LAPD detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy) was among those who helped create the AI system. During his career, he has had some challenges and those have led to personal problems. Before long, he is in a situation with a blackout and comes to, sitting in a chair at Mercy Capital Court, charged with the murder of his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis), in their home. He faces the AI program, Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), on a screen. The judge explains the rules, but he knows them, of course.
There is a certain percentage of certainty he must meet to show if he did or didn’t commit the crime. The AI system has an onscreen Guilty Meter. Viewing the meter can keep the audience on the edge of their chair as the clock is ticking down from the 90 minutes he was allotted. Chris finds that even as an experienced detective, he has multiple challenges to prove his innocence. Most anyone can imagine having to face an AI judge that is not more than just a face talking without emotion and definite robotic voice. Her performance is good, but it sure can be maddening. I did laugh to myself when the AI who seems to know everything in seconds seemed to be stunned by certain words that the detective uses. I guess it has a glitch in the system that hasn’t been removed yet.
If this type of film is appealing, be sure to remember there is an endless number of images from various sources, including private cell phones, police drone footage, and all manner of cameras at restaurants, street corners, or the neighbor’s cameras. When I say this “type” of film, think of the 2014 film Unfriended, or Missing (2023), as well as in television series.
Among the other characters in this crime thriller is his tough police colleague Jacqueline “Jaq” Diallo (Kali Reis); Chris and Nicole’s 16-year-old daughter Britt Raven (Kylie Rogers), and his supportive Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Rob Nelson (Chris Sullivan). We learn of Chris’ former cop partner Ray Vale (Kenneth Choi) who died while on the job and a vagrant named David Webb (Ross Gosla), who was the first person executed in the Mercy legal system.
It is quite a stretch to only allow 90 minutes for a person to defend themselves in a trial. There are questions about the guilty verdict always resulting in execution, as well as for worse corruption and abuse. It is important to mention the loss of people’s basic legal rights.
Mercy has a release in IMAX theaters, with 3-D as an option. I personally will not plan on paying for either of these options, as it is adequate to view on standard screens. This is completely a personal choice and when someone has no budget limitations.
Mercy is available in U.S. cinemas on January 23, 2026. Check your local theater showtimes for the option you select to view it in.
Source: Amazon MGM Studios
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