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MERCY

“Prove Your Innocence or Die”

Family Content: -2 Extreme caution for older teenagers and adults.

Entertainment Quality:

None Light Moderate Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

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What You Need To Know:

MERCY stars Chris Pratt as a Los Angeles homicide detective strapped to an electric chair who must prove in 90 minutes that he didn’t murder his wife to an unfeeling female Artificial Intelligence assigned to be his judge, jury and executioner. MERCY has an intense, though unlikely, plot device, story and premise supporting justice, but nearly the entire case involves the detective sitting in the chair and going over the evidence with the AI judge, which limit’s the plot’s suspense and excitement, and the movie has excessive foul language. 

MERCY has an intense, interesting plot device and premise supporting one man’s quest for justice. However, nearly the entire story involves the detective just sitting in the chair and going over the evidence and videos associated with his case. It’s a bit claustrophobic. MERCY has a strong moral, pro-family worldview about pursuing justice and promoting family ties. However, it has two villains who go too far, though they don’t get away with their crimes. MERCY also has strong violence and excessive foul language, including six strong profanities. So, MOVIEGUIE® advises extreme caution. 

Content:

(BB, PP, C, LLL, VV, N, AA, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

Strong moral pro-family worldview promotes justice, the pursuit of justice and a Western, Christian, biblical view of it;

Foul Language:

45 obscenities, four strong profanities mentioning the name of Jesus, two GD profanities, and five light profanities;

Violence:

Strong intense violence with some blood includes policeman shot by motorist and partner drives him to hospital, woman mortally stabbed in the back, an explosion, a gunfight, a plot to unleash a large explosive, chase scene includes some vehicle crashes, a vehicle busts through a restaurant window where people are sitting;

Sex:

No sex;

Nudity:

Brief upper male nudity in one scene;

Alcohol Use:

Some alcohol use and drunkenness, and hero had a past alcohol problem;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

No smoking content and/or level of drug use or abuse; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Killer frames homicide detective, a person hides evidence that would have exonerated a man convicted of murder and killer is out for revenge Intelligence judge before she pulls the switch. The movie shows Raven working with the AI judge to find evidence that will exonerate him. Eventually, to prove his innocence, he must find the real killer. Easier said than done.

More Detail:

MERCY stars Chris Pratt as a Los Angeles homicide detective strapped to an electric chair who must prove in 90 minutes that he didn’t murder his wife to an unfeeling female Artificial Intelligence assigned to be his judge, jury and executioner. MERCY has an intense, though unlikely, plot device, story and premise supporting justice, but nearly the entire case involves the detective sitting in the chair and going over the evidence with the AI judge, which limit’s the plot’s suspense and excitement, and the movie has excessive foul language.

After a brief opening explaining the background behind the AI judge program, the movie opens with Detective Chris Raven suddenly waking up in the judgment seat. Ironically, he and his partner, Jacqueline “Jaq” Diallo, were the first officers to work the murder case that led to the AI conviction and execution of a homeless man named Davd Webb. Crime had gotten out of control and jury trials too lengthy and biased. So, California and other states decided AI would be unbiased and more just.

Raven doesn’t remember what happened. He fell off the wagon, came home drunk and had a fight with his wife, and doesn’t remember anything else until he found himself in the judgment chair. However, he repeatedly denies killing his wife, saying he truly loved her.

So, the rest of the movie shows Raven working with the AI judge to find the evidence that will exonerate him. Eventually, to prove his innocence, he must find the real killer.

MERCY has an intense, interesting plot device and premise supporting a quest for justice. However, nearly the entire story involves the homicide detective just sitting in the chair and going over the evidence and videos associated with his case. The detective reaches out to his partner, family and friends to prove his innocence. The claustrophobic nature of all this dilutes the story’s suspense and excitement.

Also, the idea that society might turn to an AI judge to be judge, jury and executioner is a little far-fetched. This seems especially true of the idea that the accused only has 90 minutes to prove his innocence. The British and American systems of justice are ultimately based on biblical law where the burden of proof is on the accuser, not the accused. There are many foolish people who’ve distorted this system, including many defense lawyers and judges. Thus, while AI probably will be used more frequently in the future, the judicial system described in MERCY is not likely to be instituted anytime soon. Only God knows what the future will bring, however.

That said, MERCY has a strong moral, pro-family worldview about pursuing justice and promoting family ties. However, it has two villains who go too far, though they don’t get away with their crimes. MERCY also has strong violence and excessive foul language, including six strong profanities. So, MOVIEGUIE® advises extreme caution.