Chris Pratt's 'Mercy' Marks a Bold Departure from Blockbuster Roles
Chris Pratt, known for his charismatic performances in blockbuster hits like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, is set to stun audiences with his latest film, Mercy. In this intense sci-fi thriller, Pratt takes on a role that is a stark departure from his usual wisecracking action heroes.
A Challenging New Role
In Mercy, Pratt plays homicide detective Chris Raven, an alcoholic police officer who finds himself accused of murdering his wife. After a night of heavy drinking, Raven wakes up locked in an executioner's chair with just 90 minutes to convince an AI judge of his innocence. If he fails, he faces immediate execution.
Pratt explains his decision to request that the chair be locked for real during filming, saying, "I thought this would help lend itself to the performance, and feelings of claustrophobia and being trapped. I was sweating, so if my face itched, I couldn't scratch it, and I couldn't get up."
Pushing Boundaries
The actor, who is always eager to try new things, found the experience both challenging and fulfilling. "I'm always eager to try new things, to be challenged in different ways, and maybe give audiences something they might not expect from me," Pratt says. "I couldn't rely on the thing I like to bring to roles—where I'm a little bit goofy and guileless. This is serious."
The World of 'Mercy'
Mercy is set in a futuristic world where everyone is under digital surveillance, and artificial intelligence has been harnessed to reduce the crime rate. The result is the Mercy court, a system where defendants get full access to surveillance footage and short phone calls with witnesses, but with no jury or chance to appeal. A staggering 92% of trials result in instant execution.
"Commit a crime today, you'll be dead tomorrow," Pratt quips, highlighting the high stakes of this dystopian world.
Collaborating with Rebecca Ferguson
Pratt's scenes with Rebecca Ferguson, who plays the AI Judge Maddox, were particularly challenging. The actor was locked in the chair several feet above the ground, unable to see Ferguson while cameras were rolling. "Rebecca was there. I was listening to her voice, but she wasn't on set with me," Pratt recalls. "So being isolated in this big box by myself was just a really great challenge."
The Filming Experience
Despite the intense constraints, Pratt found the filming experience more fulfilling than some of his previous movie shoots. "When you do these big blockbuster movies, they're really fun to sit down and watch," he says. "The 10,000 things that I'm confronted with through the course of this trial, we shot all of that stuff."
The extensive surveillance footage in the film allowed Pratt to break free from the confines of the Mercy court for some scenes, leading to several great stunt and fight sequences. "It was almost like shooting two movies at once," he adds.
Starring alongside Kali Reis
True Detective star and professional boxer Kali Reis co-stars opposite Pratt as detective Jaq Diallo, adding another layer of intensity to the film. Their on-screen chemistry and the high-stakes action sequences make Mercy a thrilling watch.
Conclusion
Chris Pratt's latest role in Mercy is a testament to his versatility as an actor. By willingly locking himself into an executioner's chair for hours at a time, Pratt has delivered a performance that is both physically and emotionally demanding. Fans of the actor will not want to miss this gripping thriller, which promises to be a departure from anything Pratt has done before.