Written and Directed by: Patrick Roddy
Starring: Gary Shannon, Shelley Farrell, Charles McNeely III, Julie Ann Fay
ArchImage Studio

In the realm of independent, low-budget horror, Mercy stands out as a rarity. It does not rely on buckets of Karo syrup, pointless nudity and a here-we-go-again storyline. Instead, it takes a fresh and original approach. With Mercy, writer/director Patrick Roddy has fused the mysterious film noir with the eerie imagery and storyline of a David Lynch film. Mercy is a beautifully bleak, surreal and excellently acted low-budget film that is definitely worth checking out.

After a 25 year stint in the pen, John Mercy (Gary Shannon) is released into a grimy, industrial world. His parole officer (Charles McNeely III) tells him the rules and states, “I still own you.” He is told where he will work (in a depressing and repetitive factory job), where he will live (in a dingy hotel room that looks more like a jail cell) and what he isn’t allowed to do. No weapons, no drugs, no alcohol and no visitors to his room. His parole officer plainly states that when he screws up and breaks a rule, he’ll take great pleasure in sending him back to prison. As John walks through his new, run-down neighborhood, he is bullied by a street preacher and the many prostitutes, addicts, pimps and drug dealers. His only repose comes in the form of a postcard that reads “God’s Country” and shows a picture of the Montana wilderness. He longs for the freedom the postcard represents, but knows he cannot leave. He continues his dreary life, day by repetitive day, until he meets Eve (Shelley Farrell) at the nearly empty bar across from his hotel. They begin a shaky relationship, but strange things are happening to John. He keeps seeing a woman (Julie Ann Fay) with a slit throat that seems to follow him everywhere. Soon, he finds himself losing body parts. At first, it’s just a tooth, but then it is a missing pinky finger, then an eyeball…Is John lost it? Does the apparition of the woman have something to do with his torment? Is Eve to blame? Is his sadistic parole officer out to drive him crazy?

Mercy is a spectacularly different film for the horror genre. It uses arthouse direction and horror movie shocks to up the ante and create something truly different. Everything from the direction to the acting is spot on, quite an accomplishment for something with a small budget. I especially enjoyed the terrific performance by Gary Shannon as John Mercy. He becomes the broken John Mercy completely and you can see the sad, far-away look that speaks volumes more than dialogue ever could.

The film is beautifully shot in black and white, giving John’s world a stark, sinister feel. Everything is hidden in deep shadows and the style behind the film is decidedly noir. Director Patrick Roddy excels at creating austere shots that evoke isolation, loneliness and despair. There are even a few scenes that will make you jump with the sudden appearance of the ghostly woman. It should also be noted that the film doesn’t have too much dialogue in it. This is a hard feat to pull off considering the filmmaker has to keep the audience interested, which is what Roddy does exactly. Through the storyline and a few haunting images Roddy keeps the audience’s attention glued to the screen.

That isn’t to say the film doesn’t have problems. It is very slow-paced and most horror fans won’t have the patience to sit through it. The scenes from John’s repetitive life are there for a reason, but get downright boring for the viewer rather quickly.

Mercy is a revelation to independent and low budget filmmakers everywhere. A fantastic film can be created on a low budget without having to resort to tired clichés. For fans of the surreal, the film noir and the revenge tale, I highly recommend you check out Mercy.