Science fiction turns disturbingly familiar in Mercy, a high-stakes action thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov, the visionary director behind Unfriended, Searching, Missing, and Profile. Known for redefining modern storytelling through his signature Screenlife format, Bekmambetov once again stretches cinematic boundaries—this time pairing innovative visuals with a grounded, emotionally charged story that feels uncomfortably close to reality.
Set in the year 2029, Mercy presents a world where technology no longer supports justice—it controls it.
A Man on Trial in a Digital Courtroom
The story follows Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Endgame), who finds himself accused of murdering his wife, Nicole (Annabelle Wallis, Peaky Blinders). With the justice system fully automated, Raven’s fate rests in the hands of an artificial intelligence judge—an invention he once proudly defended.
That AI is Judge Maddox, portrayed with icy precision by Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, Mission: Impossible franchise). With no jury and no second chances, Raven must prove his innocence directly to Maddox. Failure means immediate execution.
“Mercy is a very intense, thrilling mystery, a new approach to the Screenlife language with a very entertaining, serious, impactful subject,” says Bekmambetov. “I loved this story not just as a Screenlife movie, but as a traditional movie. It involves how we behave and interact with technology.”
Why the Story Resonated with the Cast
Chris Pratt admits he was instantly captivated by the screenplay and Bekmambetov’s storytelling style.
I thought it was an inventive mystery story unlike anything I’d read before, which is saying a lot because I read everything! But this really caught my attention,” Pratt says. “MERCY is a ‘multi-genre’ film — it’s a courtroom drama, a thriller, a mystery, and an action film,” Pratt adds. “And it utilizes Screenlife, a genre curated by Timur. MERCY really takes all of that to the next level.”
For Rebecca Ferguson, the film raises urgent questions about society’s growing dependence on artificial intelligence.
“Mercy highlights the shortcomings in a world where Artificial Intelligence is growing but is still very limited when it comes to actually revealing the truth,” she says. “The problem is that we expect accuracy, and more and more we need to question what the online world is telling us.” Ferguson wishes that it imparts insight onto audiences. “I hope that people do question AI, and humans’ relationship to AI,” says Ferguson. “Artificial Intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it should always be just that — a tool to aid humans, not an alternative to humans. This film highlights, in a narrative sense, some of the ways that relying on AI could go very wrong.”
Watch the Official Trailer here:
A Familiar Future with Alarming Consequences
Producer Robert Amidon notes that Mercy continues Bekmambetov’s tradition of stories rooted in realism, despite their futuristic settings.
“The concept in Mercy aligned with his previous films Missing, Searching, and Profile. And like those, this story that was set in 2029 was grounded in reality while going into different genres.”
With its sleek digital presentation, gripping performances, and morally charged premise, Mercy delivers more than adrenaline—it challenges audiences to question how much control technology should have over human lives.
Coming to Philippine Cinemas
Mercy opens in Philippine theaters on January 28, 2026, screening in IMAX and 3D. The film is distributed locally by Columbia Pictures, the Philippine office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
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