Mercy

Mercy

Year: 2023

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Emma Dante

Drama

In a desolate coastal wasteland, three prostitutes find solace caring for Arturo, a young man with a developmental disability. They live amongst a community of outcasts struggling with poverty, ignorance, and violence. Arturo's mother died giving birth, and the women took him in as an infant, providing him with care and companionship in a harsh and unforgiving world. The film explores his uncertain future within this challenging environment.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Mercy yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Mercy (2023) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Mercy (2023), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Two years after her husband Jeffrey died in a bomb explosion in Afghanistan, Michelle Miller, a casualty surgeon at Mercy Hospital, continues to tend the wounded while doing her best to raise her son, Bobby. The routine of her work and home life is interrupted by a tense, violent confrontation that reveals the high stakes surrounding a dangerous criminal underworld.

McBride and Ellis, two FBI agents, arrest Ryan Quinn of the Quinn Gang Brotherhood, a family‑run crime operation with deep roots in illegal activity across the United States. As they move to take Ryan into custody, the mission spirals into chaos when Sean Quinn and his henchmen—Johnno, Danny, and Mick—launch a ruthless ambush on the convoy, killing most of the agents and seriously wounding McBride. In a brutal moment, Sean shoots Ryan twice at close range, and Ellis escapes with McBride and Ryan and brings them to the hospital for safety and containment.

The Quinns descend on Mercy Hospital with a deadly objective: to extract Ryan. They murder the receptionist and seize the building, turning the hallways into a hostage situation as Michelle hides Bobby inside a locker and Ellis hides Ryan on an upper floor. In the ensuing search for Ryan, Sean kills McBride by disconnecting his ventilator, leaving the hospital on edge and the remaining authorities scrambling to respond.

With police arriving outside, Sean makes a stark threat to kill every hostage if officers attempt a raid. Inside, Michelle uses her combat training to strike back, defeating Mick in a struggle and buying time as Bobby, now a key hostage, is located. Paddy steps into the fray by calling Michelle with a demand to exchange Ryan for Bobby, while Sean forces a dangerous plan into motion by placing a bomb vest on Dr. Terrance, a trusted ally, and warning the police not to intervene.

Tensions rise as Paddy confronts Sean about the risk to their operation, and it comes to light that Ryan has tipped off the FBI, injecting a dangerous new element into the family dispute. Michelle discovers Danny constructing a bomb, and she confronts him in a tense confrontation that ends with Danny’s death at her hands.

In a high‑stakes exchange, Michelle hands Ryan over for Bobby in the morgue, a moment that reconfigures loyalties and power within the family. Ryan later reveals to Paddy that Sean shot him, and Paddy confronts the consequences of his choices as his own father—Sean’s grandfather—had previously failed him in a similar way. The fatal rift between Sean and Paddy deepens when Sean shoots Paddy in the abdomen, leaving him gravely wounded but alive enough to acknowledge his own failings as a father.

The police storm the hospital, neutralize the remaining threats, and rescue the hostages. In the ensuing chaos, Ellis kills Johnno as he tries to reach for Bobby, who makes a daring dash into a tunnel and escapes. Sean shoots Michelle, momentarily knocking her unconscious, and activates the timed bomb. Michelle regains her resolve, defuses the device, and races to the tunnel where Sean has taken Bobby hostage. In a final confrontation, Bobby stomps on Sean’s feet, providing a crucial distraction that allows Michelle to close in and kill Sean.

With the danger resolved, Ryan and Paddy are transported to another hospital, and Ellis publicly commends Michelle for her bravery. She is left to recover at home, grateful to have her son back safe in her arms and ready to move forward after the harrowing events at the hospital.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:16

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Unlock the Full Story of Mercy

Don't stop at just watching — explore Mercy in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Mercy is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

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Track the full timeline of Mercy with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

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Mercy Spoiler-Free Summary

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