Mercy Road – REVIEW
The tension in this small high paced Aussie psychological thriller is suffocating – it’s unsettling and highly stressful viewing but be assured, interest should be maintained until the very last frame!
A man named Tom commits a hideous crime and drives off, only to be contacted on his mobile by an unknown caller known as The Associate. He tells Tom that he has kidnapped his 12 year old daughter, Ruby, and that she only has 45 minutes to live unless he completes a specific task.
Who is The Associate and what did Tom do? More importantly why did Tom commit murder?
Everyone believes that Tom, who divorced his wife, has kidnapped his own daughter. The fact that he’s so temperamental intensifies the belief that he may actually kill her. Law enforcements are on his trail. The race against time is on – can he save his daughter from The Associate or will she perish with only 45 minutes of oxygen in a shallow grave that she’s buried in?
No time is wasted in the storytelling process. The action commences immediately after the opening credits have rolled and audiences are fed bits and pieces of the story as Tom’s temperament accelerates. There are several twists and turns which lead to an unpredictable finale.
This is not your conventional high octane charged thriller. There is only one character whose face fronts the camera throughout, with the exception of a few moments in the finale. The mobile in the car constantly rings as his wife, the emergency services, and the associate are on his trail. This adds to the suspense and urgency of the narrative.
Luke Bracey portrays Tom and what a performance he delivers. It takes a good actor to deliver a performance which highlights the mounting emotions a father must endure, as he jumps one hurdle after the other to locate his daughter as death awaits. Audiences will feel a father’s anguish as he attempts to save his young daughter from an unspeakable end.
Toby Jones lends his voice to the character of The Associate – a frightful voice of evil that may linger on in the minds of the more sensitive moviegoers.
Dark and unique, this film unfolds in real time and makes compelling viewing. The ultimatum The Associate offers Tom in the finale is unimaginable and horrendous. What lengths would you go to save your child?
★★★
In cinemas October 26
