In ‘Mercy,’ Chris Pratt is on trial with an artificial intelligence judge – Butler Eagle

The film “Mercy” incorporates an ever-present countdown clock as a key storytelling device, intended to create suspense but ultimately becomes an annoying aspect given the forced urgency throughout.
Set in a near-future Los Angeles where AI has been adopted by law enforcement and the judicial system, the movie explores a world where incarcerated individuals are deemed guilty until proven innocent, with digital footprints used as evidence.
Chris Pratt’s character, Chris Raven, wakes up accused of murdering his wife and has 90 minutes to prove his innocence using an AI judge played by Rebecca Ferguson, but suffers from memory gaps about the events leading up to his arrest.
The plot relies heavily on contrived scenarios to maintain tension, including Raven’s struggle with alcohol following a partner’s death on the job, and the ambiguous nature of whether he committed the crime.
The choice to have a human actress play the AI judge, Rebecca Ferguson, is criticized for lacking interest as viewers are left with a cold, robotic interaction instead of a more immersive AI experience.
The protagonist’s investigation is conducted mostly via screens and FaceTime, with minimal interaction between characters in “real” settings, further emphasizing the film’s reliance on technology and isolating characters.
Despite its intriguing premise, the film fails to deeply engage the audience, earning a disappointing one and a half stars out of four.