Mercy

Greetings again from the darkness. Imagine if Liam Neeson's character in TAKEN had also been a skilled trauma surgeon ... and a woman. If so, the result would be similar to the main character here, Michelle, played by Leah Gibson. Michelle is that rare former military doctor with special ops skills. She's also a mother to a young son, and experiences a traumatic event in the opening scene in this film from director Tony Dean Smith and writer Alex Wright.

Michelle (Ms. Gibson) returns to civilian life as a single mother and secures a job as a surgeon at a small suburban hospital where a former military affiliate is Chief of Surgery. She's making the best of her new life, and has secured the night off work to take her son to a big soccer match for his birthday. Before they can leave the hospital, a gunshot victim arrives - one needing Michelle's special skills. Of course, we have seen what she hasn't ... the gun shot victim is part of the local Irish mob known as the Quinn Brotherhood, and though his wounds occurred during a crime, there is a twist.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Sean Quinn, the hot-headed son of Patrick Quinn (Oscar winner Jon Voight). The two butt heads as the elderly Patrick looks for a negotiated agreement under duress, while the young Sean thinks everything can be solved with intimidation and violence. Not helping matters is a rookie FBI agent who has the youngest Quinn son (the above-mentioned gunshot victim) in custody.

There is plenty of noise, gunfire, and tough-talking throughout the film, but we never believe that Michelle is in much danger - thanks to her 'very particular set of skills.' Although she has acted regularly for the past 15 years, we wouldn't call Leah Gibson a familiar face. She is, however, up to the challenges of this physically demanding role. Even Jonathan Rhys Meyers is all in as the psychopath gangster, and despite his turn in "The Tudors", he has never reached the level of stardom I predicted after MATCH POINT (2005).

Jon Voight is now 85 years old, and his storied career includes key roles in MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969), DELIVERANCE (1972), COMING HOME (1978), MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996), and a career renaissance with "Ray Donovan" ... the role most similar to his character in this movie. Outside of Mr. Voight, the film has a distinct B-movie look and feel, although the clown in the hospital was a nice touch and almost made up for the lame 'salutes' we are subjected to.

In select theatres on May 12, 2023, and on demand on June 2, 2023.

An Irish crime family takes over a hospital in Washington (state) when the heir of the business is wounded in a clash with law enforcement. A doctor with military experience helps authorities from the inside (Leah Gibson). Jon Voight is on hand as the Irish 'Godfather.'

"Mercy" (2023) is a snappy crime thriller in the mold of "Die Hard," just with a lower budget and a kick-axx woman in the top role instead of Bruce Willis.

Speaking of whom, Leah Gibson shines here and is one of the main reasons for seeing this minor flick that cost $5 million. The only other film I've seen her in is "The Devil's Ground" from 14 years prior where she had the same distinctive doe-eyed face, but with a stick figure; she's thankfully filled out over the years and looks great in tight jeans. Her beauty is well displayed throughout without getting sleazy.

Another positive is that "Mercy" is pro-Conservative. Critics are too hard on it seeing as how it delivers the goods if you're in the mood for a quick action thriller.

The movie is short-n-sweet at 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was presumably shot in the Seattle area (you can see the Space Needle in the distance). I say 'presumably' because I can't find specifics on the locations.

GRADE: B-

Obviously action movies tend to dismiss realism for a good view, but this just scrapes by as watchable due to its unrealistic plot and characters that just don't fit. A medical officer portrayed as some kind of elite hand to hand combat specialist, assisted by an agent who just seems to blunder his way through the ordeal. Then we have an Irish family with poor accents, no regard for the outcome of their actions - just bouncing from one mishap to another, hardly the traits of an organised mob gang. Shame it didn't have some one liners and a comedic slant as it would had have improved the outcome dramatically.

Nail-biting action movie about a hospital under siege of a dangerous and sadist Irish band. Two years ago, Dr. Miller's (Leah Gibson) husband died before her eyes on the Afghan front. Now she works in the emergency management department at Mercy Hospital and the days of war are behind her , and she lives with her son Bobby (Anthony Bolognese). However, everything changes the day an FBI witness is admitted injured to the hospital. The witness is Ryan Quinn (Anthony Konechny), the brother of Sean Quinn (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) and the son of Patrick "Paddy" Quinn (Jon Voight), whose family is the member of the Irish mob called the Quinn Gang Brotherhood responsible for committing series of crimes in the United States. The FBI wants Ryan to testify against Sean and Paddy, but he refuses and says that his family runs a clean operation. The FBI knows that Paddy has picked Ryan to run the enterprise, bypassing Sean, and they have also leaked that Ryan has cooperated with the agency. And this place ends up becoming the battlefield of the Irish mafia. Soon after, the doctor learns the kidnap, and she contends the villain intruder people. But terrorists will resort at whatever means to get their purports. Dr. Miller's skills are the only ones that can save this dangerous situation."The wrong woman in the wrong place at the wrong time".

A thrilling, intriguing and violent film in which FBI, the Irish mafia, a former military doctor in the Afghan war and a bunch of innocent people find themselves inside a hospital when it becomes a real battlefield, so our starring is forced to rely upon her battle-hardened past and lethal skills after realizing there's no one left to save the day but her. The film is passable but it has nothing special, it is full of situations that we have seen many times before and much better. This action and revenge thriller stars the 1979 Best Actor Oscar winner, John Voight (Midnight Cowboy, The Odessa file), and Jonathan Rhys (Mission Impossible 3, Match Point), but the real protagonist is Leah Miller who's pretty well as the resourceful doctor and former military officer finds herself in a deadly battle for survival when the Irish mob takes control of the hospital where she works and her son is taken hostage. As the busty Leah Gibson gives an enjoyable acting as the ex-military officer whose son is taken as hostage by a terrorist group, becoming an one-woman army fighting desperately to stay alive and save the kidnapped people.

This B-movie was regularly but professionally made by filmmaker Tony Dean Smith. He is a frequent director of television films (Disappearance in Yellowstone, Aurora Teagarden, The Secret Lives of College Freshmen, Love Under the Rainbow, The killer in the guest house) and occasionally for cinema (Volition, Mercy). Rating: 5/10. The film is only recommended for hardcore lovers of action and fighting movies.

Military doctor Michelle (Leah Gibson) survives a dangerous explosion while treating a soldier. It's two years later and she's working at a hospital. She is about to leave work with her son Bobby when the FBI comes rushing in with prisoner Ryan Quinn. They have injured and the Quinn Irish criminal family coming after them. The family is led by patriarch Patrick Quinn (Jon Voight) and his murderous son Sean Quinn (Jonathan Rhys Meyers). The Quinn family gang takes over the hospital and looks to recover Ryan.

Leah Gibson seems to be a thirtysomething actress who had worked a lot in secondary roles. She's blonde. She has boobs which she uses in an early shower scene. She does surprisingly functional action. She's a fine physical actress from her dance work. Along with her, this has a couple of big name actors. This has potential, but it also stinks of B-movie. Sadly, the stink wins out in this case. The writing is bland and the filmmaking is poor. They basically have the run of a building and shot a film there. B-movies like this needs great stunt sequences, but they are only passable. There is nothing here but a forgettable B-movie.