The film "Mercy" employs the "screenlife" storytelling technique, where the narrative unfolds primarily through desktop and laptop visuals. This technique has been utilized in previous films such as "Unfriended" (2014), "Host" (2020), and "Missing" (2023), and in television series like the "Connection Lost" episode of "Modern Family" (2015).
Timur Bekmambetov, a producer recognized for pioneering the screenlife genre, directed "Mercy." The screenplay, written by Marco van Belle, addresses concerns regarding privacy in a modern world characterized by social media, surveillance cameras, smartphone-wielding citizens, and advanced AI systems like Gemini and ChatGPT.
"Mercy" is set in a near-future, dystopian Los Angeles in 2029, where an Artificial Intelligence-powered judicial system called the Mercy Capital Court has been activated. Chris Pratt stars as LAPD detective Chris Raven, who was instrumental in developing the system. Raven subsequently finds himself accused of the brutal stabbing murder of his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis).
At the Mercy Capital Court, Chris is presented with his case by Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), an AI program. The court operates as judge, jury, and executioner. Chris is granted access to the city's "Municipal Cloud," which includes data from cameras, cell phones, and various databases. A visible "Guilty Meter" displays the probability of his guilt, which is initially in the high 90s. Chris has 90 minutes to lower this probability below 92% to avoid immediate execution.
The story progresses in real-time, with Chris's investigation impeded by his memory loss from the hours following the crime. Chris Pratt's performance, where his character is largely immobilized, was noted as a departure from his more physically active roles. Rebecca Ferguson's portrayal of Judge Maddox is restricted to an emotionless, robotic voice, as the character is an AI program. The film utilizes a constant stream of varying visual styles, including private cell phone clips, police drone footage, and visuals from street cameras and other sources. Supporting roles include Chris and Nicole's daughter, Britt (Kylie Rogers), Chris's LAPD partner Jaq (Kali Reis), and his AA sponsor Rob (Chris Sullivan).