Monday, March 5, 2018

Mercy (2016)



Number Rolled: 97
Movie Name/Year: Mercy (2016)
Tagline: None
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Length: 87 minutes
Rating: TV-MA
Production Companies: Uncorked Productions, XYZ Films
Producer: Robyn K. Bennett, Ian Bricke, Andrew Corkin, Kyle Franke, Matt Levin, Missy Moyer, Chloe Olman, Nick Spicer
Director: Chris Sparling
Writer: Chris Sparling
Actors: James Wolk, Caitlin FitzGerald, Tom Lipinski, Dan Ziskie, Michael Godere, Mike Donovan, Constance Barron, Hilary R. Walker
Stunts: Jordan Rosas, A.J. Verel, Brandyn T. Williams

Blurb from Netflix: Two brothers clash with their half-siblings when a visit home to see their dying mother surfaces and becomes a fight for survival.


Selina’s Point of View:
I expect more from Netflix.

Seriously, they’ve built a hell of a name for themselves. With movies and shows that go above and beyond anything we’ve gotten to see in theaters in a long time, Netflix has trained me to expect nothing but gold when I see their name attached to something original. That means I get even more upset when something by them has to be put in the fail category.

In this case, there were significant issues that cause me to look back on it with dislike.

I’m going to ignore the fact that it’s a recipe film, because I could have looked passed that if the rest of the issues weren’t a factor.


There were pacing issues in the start. I’d say about one-third of the film was so slow that I was actively falling asleep. It took real effort to stay awake. The ending was interested, it was a twist I don’t recall seeing before, but it was delivered so poorly that I actually wonder if the issue with it was the editing. I think there might be scenes on the cutting room floor that should have been left in.

The entire core plot of the movie never really gets any closure, either… and that’s a problem. It’s not just an open ending that you can discuss. That would have been fine. Instead, it has so many unanswered questions that the entire film feels utterly pointless.

Even at it’s acceptable length, it’s not worth it. If you want something like it, watch You’re Next (2011) instead.


Cat’s Point of View:
What did I just watch?!

Really, if anyone has a clue – give it to me, because I’m so confused. I felt like I was taking a test I didn’t study for. If you like movies that drop you into the middle of something going on, but never really explains, then this might be right up your alley.

I can tell you that it certainly isn’t mine.

There was such potential here to fill out the layers that the film kept trying to create. The problem was that the whole thing felt like an incomplete thought. Sure, some things gave a lightbulb moment or so – but I still don’t have any inkling WHY things went down the way they did.


This might just drive me nuts for a bit.

I’m afraid that even explaining what is the most maddening to me would give away spoilers for what little there is of a plot.

I don’t think I have anything negative to note about the acting, even if I don’t really understand all of the characters’ motivations fully. I did appreciate when things switched gears to give a little bit of a different perspective to events. Unfortunately, it didn’t shine enough light on what was going on aside from the fact that it was a tragic clusterfuck that may or may not have been karmic comeuppance.

Don’t even get me started on the ending. I can’t remember the last time I was so unfulfilled and discontented after watching a Netflix Original – I think this is the first one, really. I certainly hope it’s the last that leaves me this sour.


Languages
Speech Available: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Subtitles Available: English, French, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 9%
Metascore - None
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 4.1/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating1.5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating2/5

Movie Trailer:

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