AI on Guard in the Film 'To Execute or Not to Pardon' 0 11

The film presents the idea where artificial intelligence goes beyond generating images or marketing prompts and becomes a full-fledged participant in the judicial system, delivering verdicts. This concept, especially in 2026, seems extraordinarily close to a possible reality.

The action unfolds in the City of Angels, where crime is rampant, prisons are overcrowded, and the police are overwhelmed: almost every second resident of the city is connected to a crime. AI, in the form and body of Rebecca Ferguson, comes to the aid of law enforcement, helping to find the guilty and punish them.

The storyline begins with Chris Pratt's character, also named Chris, becoming a suspect in the murder of his own wife. However, he is hungover, disoriented, and AI gives him just an hour and a half to pull himself together, remember the events, and prove his innocence. This time limit and the attempt to defend himself seem unrealistic, but such allowances are the norm in cinema.

The rest of the film shows how Chris, using video calls, recordings from cameras, and the help of AI, tries to advance in the investigation. He is assisted by a colleague, Jacqueline, played by Kaya Scodelario, who actively advocates for replacing corrupt police officers and judges with algorithms. The main part of the investigation is presented in a screenlife format, creating an intimate atmosphere, but it may not appeal to every viewer.

The film raises questions about what will happen if humanity grows tired of corruption and tries to replace people in the justice system with artificial intelligence. How effective is such an approach, what is its cost, and are there guarantees of justice—these questions remain unanswered by the film but provoke thought.

The idea of the film does not claim genius, and the execution is unlikely to earn an Oscar, but the film still holds the audience's attention for some time, which is no small achievement in the current cinematic era.