The Mercy
The Mercy

The Mercy

2018Movie102 minEnglish

In 1968, Donald Crowhurst, an amateur sailor, endangers the fate of his family and business, and his own life, blinded by his ambition to compete in the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, attempting to become the first person in history to single-handedly circumnavigate the world without making any stopover.

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Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes50%
Metacritic52/100
Google Users60%
Director: James MarshGenres: Biography, Drama, Sport

Plot Summary

The film chronicles the ill-fated attempt by Donald Crowhurst, a sailor, to win the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race in 1968 by sailing solo around the world. Facing mounting financial pressure and the realization that his boat is not seaworthy for the journey, Crowhurst must contend with the immense physical and psychological toll of the voyage, and the moral dilemma of his deception.

Critical Reception

The Mercy received mixed reviews from critics. While Firth's performance was generally praised, many found the film's pacing slow and its exploration of Crowhurst's inner turmoil lacking depth. Some critics also felt the film sensationalized the tragedy without fully capturing its complexities.

What Reviewers Say

  • Colin Firth delivers a commendable performance as the doomed yachtsman.
  • The film struggles to fully capture the psychological depth of Donald Crowhurst's story.
  • Visually striking but narratively uneven, failing to fully engage with the central tragedy.

Google audience: Audience reviews indicate a mixed reception, with many appreciating the acting, particularly Colin Firth, but finding the story's execution somewhat slow and lacking in emotional impact. Some viewers felt the film didn't delve deeply enough into Crowhurst's motivations and the tragic outcome.

Fun Fact

The filmmakers used a variety of boats to represent Donald Crowhurst's Teignmouth Electron, including a replica built for the film and actual footage from the 1968 race.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Based on the true story of aspiring round-the-world yachtsman Donald Crowhurst (Colin Firth) this rather disappointingly sluggish drama tries to engage us in the man's lifelong passion. A passion that jeopardises his business, puts him into...
Peter McGinn

Peter McGinn

I like Colin First enough to cut his films some slack sometimes, and this is one of those times. I thought the movie was entertaining overall, and well acted. At the same time I had a couple of problems with it. One was that I found the fam...