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*there are spoilers here (see the film first). Director/writer: Chris Sparling. Cast: James Wolk, Caitlin FitzGerald, Tom Lipinski. Mercy is a horror and thriller from Chris Sparling. Notable for writing 2010's Buried, Sparling has created a very intriguing film, here. The film appears as a letting-go of a family member. But, it proves to be more complex, especially when a group of masked characters are introduced. Two groups of characters are motivated by two very different reasons; neither motivation is very honourable, however. Playing out like a mystery initially, events take a darker turn, at the film's mid-point. It is here where a point-of-view is changed, as well. Grace's (Constance Barron) relationship with a cult-like religious sect, also creates some of the film's mystery. Finally, murderers conflict with these money-counters; everyone loses. However, viewers of Mercy will win with this latest Netflix outing. The film's story plays out straight-forwardly,...

It’s practically impossible to talk about what’s happening in Chris Sparling‘s latest thriller, Mercy, without spoiling it. The writer-director knows, and splits his film into three pieces as a result: the first third completely shrouded in mystery, the next a replay from alternative perspectives, and the last the truth of the pursuers’ identities and the lies their victims have been spinning from the start. The only other Sparling film I’ve seen is his most popular one, Buried, which he wrote with Rodrigo Cortés directing, but the similarities in deflection and confusion are obvious. Whereas it focused solely on one character trapped without the ability to fully comprehend what’s happening, Mercy places its viewer in the coffin. We don’t know who’s out there and we definitely cannot trust the family in peril.

I’ll stick solely to the first act to whet your suspense-thriller...

A new horror film is coming your way via Xyz Films. Titled Mercy, the film involves a dying mother and a possible contested inheritance. The film's first trailer shows several masked characters attempting to kill a fractured family. Starring Constance Barron, Michael Donovan and Caitlin FitzGerald, this feature will be at the La Film Festival, in early June. As well, the film will show on Netflix later this year. A preview for Mercy is hosted here. The official synopsis reveals more about the film's central conflict. Four estranged brothers reunite to say good-bye to their dying mother. While at her home, they are attacked by a mysterious group, who hounds their isolated home. Director Chris Sparling has written screenplays for other thrillers. Sparling wrote the script for Buried (2010) and the more recent slasher Atm (2012). With a background in the genre, Sparling's latest looks like a must-see title, with more to come on Mercy.