Chris Pratt defends new sci-fi thriller Mercy: “This is not a think piece”

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The new sci-fi thriller Mercy is now playing in theaters. Star Chris Pratt wants viewers to understand what to expect from the film, which is set in the near future. It follows a detective who must convince a highly advanced AI judge that he’s innocent of his wife’s murder before the judge decides his fate.

AI is everywhere in the news these days, and we’re constantly hearing about how it’s changing our lives now and in the future. You might expect the movie Mercy to address this, but that wasn’t its focus.

Pratt explained to Digital Spy that there’s something appealing about drawing people into a story that makes them rethink an important issue, such as the impact of AI on jobs and people’s livelihoods.

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Don’t expect deep meaning from this movie. It’s not trying to be intellectual – it’s a fast-paced, exciting thrill ride that lasts about 90 minutes.

I want everyone, regardless of their life experiences, to be able to share a thrilling, non-stop 90-minute adventure with others.

Timur Bekmambetov, the director of Mercy, is known for his ‘screenlife’ films. These movies, like Searching and Unfriended, show the story unfolding through the characters’ computer and phone screens.

This new film adds a clever twist: Pratt’s character is both the detective and the person watching all the evidence – including video footage – as he attempts to clear his name.

Chris Pratt spends most of the movie sitting down, but that doesn’t mean making the film was simple. It was just as demanding as his big-budget action movies.

Let me tell you, filming a huge blockbuster is way harder than it looks. We’re shooting for so many days, but each day usually only gets us a tiny bit of footage. Seriously, sometimes we’d spend a whole day just to get four seconds of the movie done! Then the next day it might be a 20-second section. You’re lucky if you get a longer scene – like, a three-page scene – to work on. It’s a lot of small pieces adding up.

Filming involved very long takes, sometimes lasting 40, 50, or even 60 minutes, which was a real challenge. While my character is seated the entire time, it did create a sense of confinement and claustrophobia.

The chair wasn’t comfortable, and I was so worried I asked someone to restrain me so I wouldn’t leave. That actually made my anxiety worse.

Find out if the effort was worth it by seeing Mercy in theaters this weekend.

Mercy is out now in cinemas.

The latest issue of Living Legends is now available, and this edition honors music legend Dolly Parton! You can purchase “Dolly at 80” at newsstands or online for only £8.99.

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2026-01-23 13:49