Mercy - Der Teufel kennt keine Gnade

Despite its slow pace there is a solid film here with some decent performances. There are some confused plot points and it feels at time like a very complex and rich script is trying to force its way through a simplified movie, but it is certainly not without its charm.

The film reads like a classic ghost story that was shackled by attempts to make it a contemporary horror film that doesn't know who its audience actually is. There are elements of comedy mixed in which don't gel well with the general tone and jump scares that don't really fit either.

Overall it is worth watching due to its potential, but don't expect to be overwhelmed as somewhere along the lines most of this was squandered by the film overall throwing things against a wall and seeing what sticks.

When news of this film first hit the media, the ensemble cast, featuring Frances O'Connor, Shirley Knight, Chandler Riggs, Joel Courtney, Dylan McDermott, and Mark Duplass, generated a level of hype among King fans that perhaps exceeded its actual merit.

Speaking personally, I'm a tremendous admirer of both Dylan McDermott and Frances O'Connor, but it was Chandler Riggs who truly ignited the anticipation for this film. Aside from his prominent role in the cult phenomenon "The Walking Dead," his career had its roots in indie horror films like "Jesus H. Zombie."

The screenplay is the work of Matt Greenberg, whose path has crossed with Stephen King's on multiple occasions, both before ("1408") and after ("Pet Sematary") this particular project.

"Mercy" is a decent horror film that will likely satisfy even those unfamiliar with the source material, the short story "Gramma." While it's not a masterpiece, it never aspires to be one. It delivers a solid dose of chills and thrills, with a few genuinely unsettling moments that will linger in the viewer's mind.

The film's strength lies in its performances, particularly Shirley Knight's portrayal of the titular Mercy, a grandmother with a dark secret. Knight's performance is both captivating and chilling, capturing the duality of a seemingly benevolent figure harboring a sinister power. Frances O'Connor, as the single mother struggling to care for her ailing mother and two sons, delivers a nuanced and heartfelt performance, conveying the character's strength and vulnerability in equal measure.

Chandler Riggs, as the eldest son George, effectively portrays the conflicted emotions of a young boy torn between his love for his grandmother and his growing suspicion of her true nature. Joel Courtney, as the younger son Buddy, provides a sense of innocence and wonder amidst the encroaching darkness.

The film's atmosphere is suitably eerie, with its dimly lit interiors and ominous soundscapes creating a sense of unease and foreboding. The special effects, while not groundbreaking, are effectively employed to enhance the film's supernatural elements.

"Mercy" is a solid entry in the ever-expanding Stephen King cinematic universe. While it may not rank among the most iconic adaptations, it's a well-crafted and entertaining horror film that will satisfy fans of the genre and leave them with a lingering sense of unease.

I went into this with a great deal of trepidation, as I do every Stephen King adaptation, only to find it wasn't one of the better ones. I was actually quite excited when I found out the short story "Gramma" was being made into a film as it is one of my favourites and genuinely creepy. I now think it should have been left well alone. The acting was okay in the main but I think it fell down when it was stretched into movie length. It definitely, for me, lacked the suspense and atmosphere of the original story. Even watching as someone who had never read the story, I wouldn't have found it scary or tense at all. As I said, the acting was okay, but the kid from The Walking Dead (sorry, his name escapes me) seemed a bit flat considering all that was happening and I was very disappointed in Dylan McDermott, who seemed to be there to get through filming and pick up his paycheck. There is a certain character who appears at the end who is quite honestly laughable (I think you'll know who I mean if you get there). Now for the positives..ehm...there was a cute dog and...the basic concept was a bit different. I hate leaving this review as I am a huge fan of King's books and there have been some great adaptations like Christine, Carrie, Shawshank, Cujo, The Green Mile and The Mist etc. Unfortunately, this is more along the lines of The Tommyknockers or Needful Things. I really think King should just hand his work over to Frank Darabont and step back so we can enjoy watching his wonderful characters come truly to life on the big screen.

Yesterday I was watching "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" and I couldn't believe the actors involved in that production. Tonight I got to see "Mercy" and again it came as a big surprise the amount of known actors that participated in the movie. I hope that this is not a retire plan for good actors, but more of a transition, a different path, a way of completing their journey, cause let's face it, not a lot of people get involved with horrors nowadays.

Mercy is good, it starts slow, it even acts cheap or maybe dumb at times, but it is to fool you. To make you lower your expectations, caught you off guard and then strike! Not a masterpiece by all means, but if you are into horrors, you should see this. A lot more complex than your usual, far from a low budget film and a very believable acting. I think it could go hand in hand with The Dark (2005) because it is better than most, it shows a lot of potential, a darker path, a better film. One of the things I loved the most is that Mercy has only 1 hour and 18 minutes, they didn't bother to stretch it more than needed, it was a simple plan, a fast and well done execution and that's that. Finally, people who realized that it is best to show quality and not quantity!

Mercy won't spook you, scare you, but will build suspense around you and will deliver on other chapters. You just need to be a horror fan looking for different kind of work here. I for one enjoyed it.

Cheers!

Whenever any horror or thriller or mystery movie comes out, I urge to see the movie as soon as possible as these are my utmost favorite genres out there!

These genres create much hype for me, so do my expectations from them! Few times I got what I wanted, sometimes unfortunately not!

This time it's the latter part!

The film starts with a good premise and setting with creepy background score, Even the characters were interesting enough but soon after sometimes! The film kinda fall down! With unnecessary scenes, not enough and well explained background stories of the characters and a kinda dull climax in the end!

In BRIEF :

* Performances were not so bad nor so good, Just OK enough!

* Soundtrack, Ahhh yeah it was good, fits well with the theme.

* Plot could have made a big impact but failed to do so!

* Slowed down and became boring in bits and pieces in between!

* Ending is not convincing enough and seems incomplete or lacks the impact I would preferably say!

If you are searching for a Short, One time watch horror film go for it but if you are someone who loves tension building, and interesting one!

Skip it!