The Mercy List

2014· Drama, Thriller

A Peeping Tom unwisely befriends a mercy killer in order to learn the fate of his sister. Tanner Zelinski is a pharmacist in a mid-size drug store. He's very good at what he does, he likes his job and he makes a great living. The other younger employees think he's a little strange, and maybe he is. He would be the first to admit his interests on are the morbid side. One night Lydia, the skittish young cashier, is forced to work back in the pharmacy with Tanner. But she soon realizes Tanner is interesting and smart, not 'creepy.' They become friends and she develops a crush on him. Little does she know about Tanner's voyeuristic tendencies. He's a textbook-case Peeping Tom. One day Marty Carmichael comes into the pharmacy, and since Tanner has a morbid fascination with serial killers, he recognizes him as a "mercy killer" recently released from prison. Aside from his gruesome fascination, Tanner has another reason for wanting to befriend Marty: he needs something answered, a lingering question from both of their pasts. Since Marty has narcissistic personality disorder he craves attention, craves an audience, craves a 'fan' and he eagerly takes Tanner as a friend. Marty starts to get inside Tanner's head. Tanner craves answers, but doesn't necessarily like what he hears. Without realizing the full implications, Tanner allows both Lydia and his store manager Brenda to be sucked into Marty's dangerous vortex of narcissism along with him. Premise: Too much self-examination can be self-defeating. Central questions: Can one change their true nature? Is it okay to do something bad if it's for "the greater good?"

Cast: Beth Grant, Terrance Zdunich, Michael Chieffo

Director: Jan Wilson