AVS Discussions
Movie and TV Discussion => Movie reviews => Topic started by: David Vaughn on April 13, 2026, 03:17:47 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/oFS9wjc.jpeg)
Studio: MGM / Amazon
Release Date: April 7, 2026
Rating: PG-13
Film: 3/5
Plot
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 AI judge (Rebecca Ferguson) he once championed, before it determines his fate.
My Thoughts
Mercy starts out strong, with a solid first act that effectively sets up what appears to be an open‑and‑shut case against Chris Raven, accused of killing his wife in a crime of passion. What initially looks like an easy conviction begins to unravel as Raven digs deeper into the evidence with the help of his partner, Jaq Diallo (Kali Reis), while AI Judge Maddox facilitates data discovery. The premise is intriguing, and the tension steadily ratchets up as the case unfolds.
Unfortunately, the story begins to unravel late in the second act, and the third act leans heavily on logical leaps that my wife and I found a bit excessive, leading to several eye‑roll moments. Still, this isn’t a bad film, and we were entertained despite its shortcomings. Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson both deliver solid performances, and the concept of an AI‑driven courtroom raises interesting questions about where the justice system could be headed. However, the script ultimately tries to juggle too many ideas and strains to be clever, to its detriment.
The 4K Ultra HD disc features both HDR10 and Dolby Vision and delivers outstanding detail throughout—especially in close‑ups, clothing textures, and the Los Angeles cityscape. Black levels are rarely pushed, and bright highlights are used sparingly, which keeps the presentation from earning a perfect score. Even so, the image remains clean, sharp, and pleasing, making this a strong visual presentation for a futuristic thriller.
The Dolby Atmos track is outstanding, with no complaints whatsoever. It offers reference‑quality spatial placement, impactful LFE when required, and consistently clear dialogue. The immersive mix significantly enhances the tension and atmosphere of the film.
Video 9/10
Audio 10/10 (Dolby Atmos)
Special Features:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSS4yqd0x6o (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSS4yqd0x6o)
Conclusion
The buzz around Mercy was surprisingly negative, so I went in with low expectations—and I’m happy to say they weren’t met. While the film is flawed, its strong setup and solid performances from Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson help balance out the narrative missteps and overcrowded third act. As a fan of legal thrillers, I appreciated the AI‑based courtroom as a fresh twist on a familiar formula, and it’s worth at least one viewing via rental or Prime streaming.
While the 4K disc certainly looks and sounds better than streaming, I’m not sure the film has much replay value after the first watch, despite its impressive A/V presentation.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS3100 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(I utilized Portrait Displays' (https://www.portrait.com/) Calman color calibration software)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Zidoo UHD8000 Media Player
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
Dual Rythmik FV15HP2
Mini DSP HD
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner
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One of my wife's coworkers saw this and gave it a strong recommendation. The trailer looks interesting, but it also sets up the story in a way that almost has to use logical leaps for the conclusion, so it's good to see your review mention that as will.
I'll watch this one keeping that in mind.
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One of my wife's coworkers saw this and gave it a strong recommendation. The trailer looks interesting, but it also sets up the story in a way that almost has to use logical leaps for the conclusion, so it's good to see your review mention that as will.
I'll watch this one keeping that in mind.
I'm curious for your thoughts on it. Neither my daughter nor son-in-law wanted to watch it, so we had to wait for them to leave before viewing. We expected a poor movie and were rewarded with a decent thriller, that's certainly flawed, but is also quite watchable.
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Nice. I have been eyeballing this one. I’ll add it to the queue. Thanks!
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Greetings,
"Flawed but watchable" sums it up. Yes, the audio/video presentation is excellent.
Regards,