Read this movie review to find out if Mercy is worth watching. Consdiering all the talk about the warnings and praise for AI this should be a slamdunk. But tis movie about an alchoholic LAPD officer suspected of murder tries and fails to convince us that AI is bad.

About Mercy

• Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
• Written by Marco van Belle
• Synopsis: “In the near future, a detective (Chris Pratt) stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determines his fate”
• Release date: January 23, 2026
• Starring: Chris Pratt, Rebecca Ferguson, Kali Reis, Annabelle Wallis, Chris Sullivan, Kylie Rogers, Jeff Pierre, Rafi Gavron, Kenneth Choi, Jamie McBride, Ross Gosla, Mark Daneri, Haydn Dalton, Noah Fearnley, and Konstantin Podprugin

Watch the trailer below:

What Happens in Mercy (2026)?

In the near future of 2029, a new justice system was established called the Mercy Court. A defendant is strapped into a chair and has access to every bit of information in the cloud, including cell phone records, door cameras, and access to witnesses. They have 90 minutes to confirm their innocence, or they are executed. One of the chief supporters is Chris Raven (Chris Pratt), who finds himself suspected of murder. The judge is an artificial intelligence construct named Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson).

The premise is set up to be a modern retelling of Minority Report. Instead, it falls apart with some simple deduction. Why would the accused not have legal counsel? It’s ridiculous to imagine a court system that requires ordinary people with no knowledge of the law to defend themselves. So, going in the concept falls apart.

Who are the Main Characters, and How is the Acting?

Patty plays police officer Chris Raven, who suddenly finds himself accused of a heinous crime. He does a good job as the grieving husband trying to prove his innocence to the court and his daughter, Britt Raven (Kylie Rogers), who found her mom’s body. Britt does an ok job as the terrified child, but is hampered by the premise. She’s forced to act against an unseen partner. Most of the movie is like that. There are only two or three scenes where actors are in the same area. This is a major acting challenge. None of the actors is up to the task. Rob Nelson (Chris Sullivan), who plays Chris’ Alchoholics Anonymous sponsor, does the best at being believable.

Is Mercy (2026) Technically Well Made?

Like last year’s atrocious War of the Worlds, most of the movie takes place over screens. This can be well-done in a movie like Searching (2018), but it can also bomb like Elijah Wood’s Open Windows (2014). This movie is more like the latter. The special effects are poor, and the movie feels cheap. Blumhouse Studios has proven that a low-budget movie can be successful. The key is a strong script and standout performances. Marco van Belle’s script is plodding and lazy. The ending relies on a staggering number of coincidences and feels like an episode of Matlock written by SpongeBob Squarepants. Timur Bekmambetov, who also directed War of the Worlds, isn’t doing himself any favors here.

What’s Good and Bad in Mercy (2026)?

The scenes of sifting through videos and evidence are well done. Plus, there’s a pretty good chase scene at the end. But the whole movie feels uninspired and unoriginal. It tries to send the message that Artificial Intelligence is flawed because it’s not human and has no soul. But the final act depends on the AI making an emotional decision.

Final Verdict: Should You Watch Mercy (2026)?

The problems with AI could have been a good jumping-off point for the film. But it wastes the concept on a predictable murder mystery. Mercy offers a critique of both itself and contemporary technology, presenting an allegory about rush judgments. But it ultimately suffers from flat storytelling and derivative elements.

Overall: Skip Mercy (2026)

Because the movie is derivative and lazy. Despite a well-executed chase sequence and Chris Pratt’s engaging performance, the film descends into chaos in its final act, losing its futuristic premise to clichéd violence. The story choices often feel absurd, yet the film entertains with its fast-paced visuals. While intended to explore themes like artificial intelligence and due process, Mercy lacks clarity and nuance, rendering its social commentary empty.

I’m giving Mercy 3 out of 5 stars.

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