Mercy Starring Chris Pratt Is a Test of Patience for Audiences

Mercy, the new science-fiction thriller starring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, arrives in Brazilian theaters this Thursday, January 22, 2026, as one of the month’s major releases. However, a production that promised a tense reflection on justice and artificial intelligence ends up becoming a true endurance test for viewers. Set in a near-future Los Angeles, the film follows detective Chris Raven (Pratt), who wakes up strapped to an electric chair with only 90 minutes to prove his innocence to an AI judge played by Ferguson.

The premise, which could have fueled a fascinating debate about ethics and technology, gets lost in confused, sluggish execution. Due to Timur Bekmambetov’s lifeless direction and a script full of contrivances, the film turns a potent idea into a dull experience. The countdown clock, which should build suspense, ends up serving as a constant reminder of how much time is left before the movie ends, frustrating the expectations of Brazilian audiences looking for quality entertainment early in the year.

A poorly explored dystopian future

In the universe of Mercy, the justice system has adopted artificial intelligence to speed up trials, presuming defendants guilty until proven otherwise. Expected to stand alongside classics like Minority Report, the film fails to develop its moral questions with the necessary depth. Instead, the plot leans on the protagonist’s memory gaps and a drinking problem, elements that feel more like contrivances than genuine drama.

One of the most questionable choices is casting a flesh-and-blood actress, Rebecca Ferguson, as the AI judge. The decision, which could have been bold, results in an emotionless performance that makes audiences feel as if they were stuck on an endless call with a robotic support agent. Meanwhile, Chris Pratt tries to carry the film on his own, but his character lacks layers, limited to reacting to screens and information popping into his field of view.

Despite fighter Kali Reis appearing as an agent trying to help Raven from the outside, most of the action is seen through video calls and bodycam footage. As a result, viewers end up as confined as the protagonist, watching the investigation unfold across a multitude of screens inside the empty room. In the end, Mercy leaves the feeling of a missed opportunity, a film that could have spoken about the dangers of automating justice but settles for shallow, uninvolving suspense.