Futuristic thriller ‘Mercy’ brings Screenlife style to PH

MANILA — Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson lead Mercy, a high-stakes action thriller told entirely through the immersive Screenlife format, coming to Philippine cinemas on Jan. 28, 2026.

Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy marks a bold evolution of the Screenlife genre — a filmmaking style that unfolds entirely through screens, blending traditional storytelling with the digital interfaces that dominate modern life.

Bekmambetov, known for pioneering the genre with Unfriended and Searching, said Mercy explores how technology shapes not just communication, but our reality.

“The Screenlife genre requires believable performances and very grounded storytelling,” said Bekmambetov. “When I began Mercy, I thought, ‘In real life I live in two realities at once — the physical world, and a world of windows, buttons, clicks, messages. I work, I fight with people, forgive people, all not in the physical world. So why are we not telling stories about that?’”

Set in a dystopian Los Angeles in 2029, Mercy follows Detective Chris Raven (Pratt), who is on trial for the murder of his wife. With just 90 minutes to prove his innocence before facing execution, he confronts A.I. Judge Maddox, played by Ferguson — a technology he once supported but that now stands between him and justice.

Bekmambetov partnered with visual design studio Experimental / Design to craft the futuristic world of Mercy. The studio’s portfolio includes Minority Report, Nike, and the Museum of Modern Art.

“Experimental / Design is a world-building studio, and world-building is a really holistic process,” said lead designer Jen Stein. “We take a deep dive into all aspects of a narrative world — in this case, the world of Mercy is a dystopian-ish Los Angeles set in 2029. We started to look at what the impacts of quantum computing might be on AI’s development.”

Despite its sci-fi setting, Mercy keeps its narrative grounded in human emotion, elevated by its cutting-edge production.

“This was quite an experimental movie to be making at this scale, using these emerging filmmaking technologies in ways I don’t think anyone’s tried before,” said producer Robert Amidon.

The use of Screenlife gives audiences a uniquely personal perspective, echoing the digital lens through which people increasingly view their lives.

“The Screenlife storytelling style is very personal — like you’re actually seeing through the eyes of a character,” said Stein. “It feels like an extension of our everyday life now with computer screens and phones. Yet Timur’s vision was grounded in reality.”

Actress Kali Reis, who plays Det. Jacqueline Diallo, Raven’s partner, said the immersive format enhanced her connection to the story and production.

“I love Timur’s vision,” Reis said. “And even with all the multiple screens and the incredible fast pace of the film, audiences can identify with the characters. In the same way, while making the movie, we were all so immersed not just in our characters, but also in the filmmaking process around us.”

Mercy will premiere in Philippine theaters and IMAX cinemas nationwide. The film is distributed locally by Columbia Pictures, the Philippine office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

For more updates, follow @columbiapicph and use the hashtag #MercyMovie. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/TSCQGx4IF5w.