“Mr. Brooks” is a darkly disturbing thriller about the banality of evil and one man’s addiction to killing. Kevin Costner will surprise you with an acting turn that is unexpected and welcome in the latter half of his career.
Costner, who is usually a down-on-his-luck good guy, instead tries his hand as Mr. Brooks - a man who is successful in business, family, and in planning and executing perfect murders. William Hurt (“A History of Violence”) has an interesting role as Costner’s subconscious – i.e., imaginary - friend, who follows him around and pushes him to act on his darker impulses.
Demi Moore (“Bobby”) also co-stars as a cop who is going through a messy divorce while trying to investigate Costner’s “Thumbprint Killer” - she has been hardened by life, but is quite obsessed with her job. Moore is adequate in the role, though her character’s personal life looms a little too large, which distracts from the main story.
The limelight shines primarily on Costner and his character’s perspective on life. Sadly, the heroes and villain don‘t have a genuine cat and mouse chase, as is standard in most crime thrillers. Instead, Mr. Brooks must battle his own inner demons, which push him to kill despite his wanting to stop. His daughter comes home unexpectedly from college with a dark mystery trailing behind her, which he may have to fix in his own special way.
The peculiarity of the film is that Costner plays his killer as a thriving everyman with dark nobility. However, right beneath the surface is a monster waiting to come out. The film, by prolific writer but only second-time director Bruce A. Evans, has an eeriness to it that will hold your attention as if you’re watching a car wreck.
Good performances and a non-traditional story makes “Mr. Brooks” a worthwhile rental.
Rated R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, nudity and language.
