Film Review: Mercy (2000)
Certain popular 1990s television dramas added to its iconic status and popularity by adding implicit lesbian subtext to the relationships between their female characters. One of the series that followed that trend was La Femme Nikita starring Peta Wilson. Her fans, at least those that liked such content, are very likely to appreciate Mercy, 2000 erotic thriller written and directed by Damian Harris.
The film is based on the 1990 novel by David L. Lindsay. Plot deals with the murders of women who are all wives to wealthy and respectable husbands. Task of catching the deranged killer is given to police detective Catherine Palmer (played by Ellen Barkin). Convinced that she would find the perpetrator if she moves in the same circles as his victims, she makes a shocking discovery. All victims belonged to the group of women who gathered in order to practise BDSM lesbian sex. Palmer is introduced to the group by Vickie Kittrie (played by Peta Wilson), young and beautiful woman who doesn’t hide that she is attracted to the detective. Investigation leads to psychotherapist Dr. Broussard (played by Julian Sands) who has some serious issues of his own.
Writer and director Damian Harris (son of famous actor Richard Harris) made a very good choice by casting Peta Wilson, Australian actress with whom he was living at the time. Wilson was obviously very happy to play character quite different from Nikita and some of her male fans would be delighted to see her appear in few scenes without clothes. Her partner Ellen Barkin, actress who had worked with Harris in Bad Company few years earlier, shows that she is quite attractive woman for her age, but also able to play character who can handle dangerous situations. Harris was also fortunate to have capable actors like Karen Young and Julian Sands in supporting roles and same can be said of Toronto locations that add a lot to the atmosphere of the film. Harris also shows talent for erotica and some of the steamy scenes represent clear homage to the most memorable erotic thrillers like Basic Instinct or Dressed to Kill. On the other hand, some scenes and subplots are unnecessary and only make the film the overlong, while moralising ending seems somewhat too conventional and out of place in this dark film. Although some may argue that Mercy was made perhaps few years too late, in a time when erotic thriller weren’t that popular, it represents one of the better examples of the genre and could be recommended even to viewers that care little about lesbian themes.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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