If you were casting a psychological horror movie, Kevin Costner would likely not be the first actor you’d think about for the lead role. For some, Costner is forever mired in the milquetoast category. In Mr. Brooks, however, Costner makes a case for more creative casting in the future. He plays a psycho quite convincingly.
The titular Mr. Brooks (Costner) is a successful businessman. He has a beautiful wife (CSI‘s Marg Helgenberger) and daughter (Danielle Panabaker). His flaw? He’s also known as “The Thumbprint Killer,” a serial murderer who meticulously cleans the crime scene afterwards leaving only the victims’ bloody thumbprints as clues.
Brooks is aware he’s addicted to killing. He’s been attending group therapy sessions which have kept him from murdering anyone for two years. When he suffers a relapse and kills a couple in their bed as they make love, he makes one crucial mistake: leaving the curtains open. This one simple misstep opens the door for Mr. Smith (Dane Cook) to enter the picture and change the dynamics of Mr. Brooks’ twisted world forever.
Mr. Brooks is not highbrow entertainment, but it is an effective and tense thriller. Costner’s performance is perfect for the cold and calculating nature of the character. Dane Cook is fine as the excitable Mr. Smith, which was a surprise to me. William Hurt, as Mr. Brooks’ evil subconscious, has the most fun with his performance and he’s gleefully demonic.
Where Mr. Brooks stumbles are the subplots involving the college-age daughter and the on-going divorce proceedings of Tracy (Demi Moore), the cop investigating the Thumbprint Killer case. Director/co-writer Bruce A. Evans attempts to reel the subplots back under control as the movie approaches its climactic moments, but the damage has already been done.
Had it been a bit more focused on the Brooks character, Mr. Brooks would have been a near-perfect thriller. As it is, it’s a worthy rental when you want something a little unusual for a Saturday night’s viewing.
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
Buy on Amazon!
