Timur Bekmambetov is known in the West for relatively minor titles (such as Wanted of 2008 and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter of 2012), his filmography is far broader and very well known especially in his native Russia. From 22 January 2026, the pioneering director of the screenlife returns to the cinema with Mercy — Under accusation, a techno-thriller with a dystopian taste produced by Amazon-MGM Studios and distributed by Sony Pictures.
Mercy: il futuro della giustizia
2029: Los Angeles has succeeded in drastically reducing the crime through the introduction of Mercy Court, a special court in which the roles of judge, jury and executioner are completely deputies to artificial intelligence. Detective Chris Raven, who helped create this system, wakes up in the Mercy Court interrogation room in front of the cyber-judge Maddox. The charge is to have murdered his wife at a time she has no memories. With all the court technology available, Chris only has 90 minutes to prove his innocence beyond any reasonable doubt, or will be executed on the spot. The truth will be more striking than even Maddox can imagine.
Mondi possibili
One of the most underrated aspects of cinema is the management of public expectations. In this sense, I think the online buzz has hurt more than good at Mercy, trying to think it as a film about the implications of artificial intelligence. What, let us clarify, is not — its discussion of the topic is more or less remained at the level of Io, Robot of 2004, while it is completely absent any thought about the total disappearance of the privacy of which the characters make a fat use and abuse.
Il bello del gimmick
Leaving the maximum systems, then, Mercy is a techno-thriller very television, but not for this less enjoyable. The idea of the telematic resolution of murder is clearly a gimmick, a superficial trick, but you know what? Every now and then a gimmick is pleased. Sometimes it’s fun to meet a movie that has an original idea and spend an hour and a half, without expecting the premise to hold for a moment more than its ninety minutes.
Il cast
Chris Pratt is Chris Raven, a Los Angeles police detective who is at Mercy Court on the charge of murdering his wife Nicole, played by Annabelle Wallis. Rebecca Ferguson is Judge Maddox, personification of Mercy AI. Kali Reis is Jaq Diallo, Raven’s partner detective who helps him collect evidence outside the court, while Kylie Rogers is Britt, daughter of Chris and Nicole. They complete the cast Rob Nelson, Rafi Gavron, Jeffe Pierre and Kenneth Choi.
The article Mercy – Under accusation: sometimes you need a gimmick. The review comes from Dituttounpop.it.
