Mercy

Rating:
Summary: I got everything except for the psychiatrist
Review: Mercy was a movie that was released on HBO. Thus, I found it to be a "hotter" than anything that is usually released in the theater. Therefore, most viewers would probably compare it to a lesbian Basic Instinct with the post-violent scenes of Seven.

This movie could have been far more ugly and brutal had we had to witness the deaths of the victims. Instead, we only had to view the aftermath. Ellen Barkin did a tremendous job of playing a homicide detective with the brains, intuitiveness and, dare I say, spunk. Really, I loved her chasing after the bald bad guy. Barkin showed physical dominance, as well as brains as she tried to get into the lives of these potential lesbian victims in order to find her killer.

Peta Wilson's character Vickie Kittrie was a dark, hurt, yet successful woman. She made you see how awful the effects of sexual child abuse often comes back to haunt adults. This character is not at all like Nikita, so if you're expecting your USA Network hero, it's not one to watch.

However, I think that this film could have happened without having Julian Sands character at all. All you know about the Sands character is that he sleeps with his patients and likes to dress up as a woman. I'm not sure how either of those facts really improves the film.

Overall, I think the script was satisfactory and that the cast really played their parts very well. Harris did a good job here on gutting the underbelly of a dangerous, sexual underground of some deeply disturbed, rich people.

Rating:
Summary: A flawed thriller that was still pretty hot!
Review: OK, I'll admit it --- I only rented this because I'd heard it was about kinky lesbians, one of whom is apparently a murderer. Hey, that's MORE than enough for me! And the casting was exceptionally good, with Ellen Barkin as an incredibly sexy detective, and Peta Wilson smouldering ever so seductively as her #1 suspect. Yes, they even had a scene together where Peta tries to seduce her --- very promising --- until they cut it short, which is my primary complaint about this movie! The sizzling scenes are WAY TOO BRIEF, while the boring crime drama stuff goes on forever! Basically, this film is a weak version of "Sea of Love." The inclusion of a wealthy lesbian s&m club was an innovative plot twist, but it's almost like the producers/writers didn't know where to go with it so they simply dropped it! The writers clearly wanted to make a serious thriller, so they played down the erotica --- and ended up with neither! Still, it's worth checking out for what sapphic content there is, and it's HOT! Peta and Ellen are beautiful women, and their chemistry together was quite nice!

Rating:
Summary: erotic in a lot of ways but that doesnt help it
Review: some steamy scenes in this movie with Peta Wilson and Ellen Barkin....Wilson has a nude scene where Barkin is watching her from other window..you know the scene where she gets shot for fake and then rubs the blood off the window...sexy scene. Julian Sands also stars..he's ok but some of the stuff down it and it gets really boring after awhile

Rating:
Summary: One good scene
Review: There is one good scene in this movie that makes it worth it. A scene that involves Ellen Barkin and a beautiful Petra Wilson(?). The seduction is breath taking.

Rating:
Summary: Who is the Intended Audience?
Review: This film is a cross between "Basic Instinct" and "Dressed to Kill." But in a way, it is more misogynist than either of those two. The fetishism of dead women's bodies in the film is truly repulsive. The film shots of the victims after they are found, are basically snuff porn. And photos of the murder victims are splashed in a big collage at the police station, and this collage frequently serves as backdrop to Ellen Barkin's soliloquies. It is seemingly an attempt to deaden the viewer to any kind of empathy for the victims as human beings.

Another misogynist aspect is the film's resolution. I won't give away the ending, but the story line gives us a murderer based on a totally ludicrous theory about what motivates people.

I am giving this film two stars instead of merely one, because of Peta Wilson's well-executed performance, and because the film includes a couple of hot, consensual, lesbian sex scenes. A really hot one takes place in a department store dressing room.

But I prefer movies that have hot sex with no fetishism of gynocide. This movie could have been just as intriguing and an overall better film without the (very intentional) eroticization of female mutilation and murder.

Rating:
Summary: Something you ought to see...
Review: This film will keep you wondering until the end. Although some will say, "I knew it was..." Don't let them fool you.

In the beginning, the plot development pace was not fast by any standard, however, it eases you in to what I'm sure you will find a plot worth waiting for.

There are some scenes that can/should make your heart flutter, and your breath grow short. You'll see them, you'll feel it, you'll enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: A sordid tale of murder and perversion
Review: When it comes to sex, normative behavior depends on the circles in which one travels. This film traverses a very sordid perimeter, and jolts us with images ranging from mild deviance to utter depravity. The themes include a women's club where affluent married women come to cheat on their husbands with other women, as well as transvestitism, sadomasochism, dominance and bondage, lesbian seduction and incest. Oh, and lest I forget the main storyline, we have serial killings where the mutilated female victims are always found in the nude.

Ellen Barkin plays a homicide detective investigating the killings. In the course of the investigation, she becomes obsessed with Vicki, who is a suspect due to her connection with two of the victims. Vicki introduces her to a world where pain, pleasure and sex collide.

This is a bold venture into sex noir that is sometimes provocative and at others disturbing, raw and distasteful. The plot was good and the ending original as mass murder stories go. Unfortunately, the presentation was very disjointed and often hard to follow. That is probably because the investigation took a back seat to the sexual odyssey, which meandered self-indulgently from hedonism to perversion. This film contained a good deal of nudity, some of which was appropriate to the story and much of which was gratuitous.

The direction by Damian Harris was good with a lot of interesting perspective shots and tight close-ups that enhanced both the suspense and the lustful aspects. However, the cinematography lost a great deal because the color quality was poor.

Ellen Barkin was a good choice for the lead in this film. Barkin has a natural toughness combined with a scorching sexuality, which was the precise combination her character needed. Peta Wilson played the sexually gifted Vicki and was seductive, sultry and lascivious.

Overall, this was a good, well-acted thriller with bizarre sexual preoccupations. I rated it 7/10, but I can understand why so many people hated it. It is definitely not for everyone. Many viewers will find the deviant sexual themes repugnant and offensive. If you are averse to lesbianism, sexual perversion or graphic gore you will want to go out of your way to miss this film.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a Great Movie
Review: With the excellent female cast of this movie, Mercy could have been a "must see" sexual thriller about female desire and perversion. Instead, as I was watching the movie, I couldn't help feeling annoyed at the fact that the director(Harris) was holding back on the terrific sexual tension between Peta(Vicki) and Ellen(Catherine) throughout the movie. I can understand the tease but when Peta finally made her big move on Ellen....(PUSH!). What's up with that? We all know that if was Bruce, Brad, Harrison, or Tom(Cruise) in that situation, there would have been a love scene that would set the screen on fire. It's not that I didn't respect Ellen's integrity but spontaneus hetero sexual encounters never affected male cop performances in the end.

Dispite that complaint, the movie is very watchable if you are into pyscho thrillers. Julian Sands is great as the kinky therapist who sometimes sleeps with his clients while wearing panty hose. It was also nice to see Wendy Crewson let it loose for a change but I wish her role in the movie was more clearly defined. Luckily, if you are Ellen Birkin and Peta Wilson fans like I am, you'll probaly like this film more than most people.

I have the DVD version of the movie and it comes with the full screen American version(same as the VHS version) and the letterboxed unrated european version on the flip side. There isn't much difference between the two versions except that the european version has more flashback sequences involving Catherine and her ex-husband and his girlfriend.

Rating:
Summary: Almost a Great Movie
Review: With the excellent female cast of this movie, Mercy could have been a "must see" sexual thriller about female desire and perversion. Instead, as I was watching the movie, I couldn't help feeling annoyed at the fact that the director(Harris) was holding back on the terrific sexual tension between Peta(Vicki) and Ellen(Catherine) throughout the movie. I can understand the tease but when Peta finally made her big move on Ellen....(PUSH!). What's up with that? We all know that if was Bruce, Brad, Harrison, or Tom(Cruise) in that situation, there would have been a love scene that would set the screen on fire. It's not that I didn't respect Ellen's integrity but spontaneus hetero sexual encounters never affected male cop performances in the end.

Dispite that complaint, the movie is very watchable if you are into pyscho thrillers. Julian Sands is great as the kinky therapist who sometimes sleeps with his clients while wearing panty hose. It was also nice to see Wendy Crewson let it loose for a change but I wish her role in the movie was more clearly defined. Luckily, if you are Ellen Birkin and Peta Wilson fans like I am, you'll probaly like this film more than most people.

I have the DVD version of the movie and it comes with the full screen American version(same as the VHS version) and the letterboxed unrated european version on the flip side. There isn't much difference between the two versions except that the european version has more flashback sequences involving Catherine and her ex-husband and his girlfriend.

Rating:
Summary: This is the review for you
Review: Yes, this movie has lesbianism, bondage, nudity, fetishism, Ellen Barkin. No, it is NOT for sex-hungry little perverts! After reading some of the other reviews, I have to say it's obvious that some people didn't understand the movie. It's not for everyone, really, because it explores very difficult subjects and can make you quite uncomfortable. Contrary to what you may think when reading some of the other reviews, "Mercy" is not about sex between women. It is merely where the scene is set. So if you are keen to watch ladies getting it on, this is not the movie for you, go buy a Penthouse or something.

Mercy will appeal to people who are not easily shocked, who are able to read between the lines, and who can follow up on an unfinished train of thought themselves. The movie is very flawed, I'll admit. Maybe the director wasn't focused enough. BUT: If you want to REALLY blow your mind, read the book. It's incredibly brilliant, and the movie isn't a patch on it.