2016 Films: #28. Mercy

Part of the post-Thanksgiving double feature of November 25th. This film was screened at the LA Film Festival in June 2016 and Netflix picked up the distribution rights. The picture is written and directed by Chris Sparling and the plot deals with the grown sons coming back to the family home to be with their dying mother.

Brad (James Wolk) and Travis (Tom Lipinski) are Grace's boys from her first husband. Then there's Grace's and her current husband George's (Dan Ziskie) sons Ronnie (Michael Godere) and TJ (Michael Vincent Donovan). George has been taking care of Grace ( as well as taking care of the will which are lead to believe is substantial)and he's also has more of a liking towards his own kids and doesn't think much of Brad and Travis. So there's that family dynamic. There's an early scene where George is visited by a doctor who has medication to help (?) Grace but George doesn't want any part of it. Soon all the sons are there and it's pretty uncomfortable for everyone. Once everyone turns in for the night, the sh*t starts to go down.

Masked intruders invade the home and its not clear what their after but eventually people start dying on both sides. The intruders reaffirm their fortitude (no one is going to get out alive) and press their attack. There's a bit of a twist that has to do with the death of Grace's first husband.

This is a minimalist film, no visual effects, no big names and a pretty simple story. It's not a bad film per se but there's nothing really special about it except for the ending (it came as a surprise but not Usual Suspects level) but you have to sit through 85 minutes to get to the ending. For a short film, it seem longer and the story seems to drag at times. That kind of thing is not good for a 90 minute film. Sparling also fails to shed any type of light on the death of Grace's first husband. There's video that one of the sons finds (in unrealistic fashion) but it doesn't add anything to story (it's a strange video that makes no sense at all). This a low budget film that goes for the slow burn but it fails to ignite the fuse. Take a pass unless you find yourself unable to sleep.