Mr. Brooks
starring Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook and William Hurt
written by Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon
directed by Bruce A. Evans
Rating: ♦♦♦
This is a murder story. A pretty good one, too. Kevin Costner plays an upright businessman - he operates a box factory, participates in and contributes to the community. He is married and has a daughter. He is upright, respectable and a good family man. He is also, secretly, a serial killer. But he is so meticulous, safe, clean and discreet that he remains uncaught after years of killing. Demi Moore plays the detective on his case. But she doesn’t get him. The movie ends with a neat little twist, just to keep you thinking. As a psychological thriller it is good. Not on the level of The Game (starring Michael Douglas and Sean Penn, directed by David Fincher, 1997). That movie is not a murder thriller, but it is similarly psychologically twisted as Mr. Brooks. (I watched The Game years ago, but I was never able to review it because it is so twisted.)
William Hurt’s role is curious. While planning and carrying out murders Costner engages in dialog with Hurt, and yet no one else can see or hear him. He’s a demon, I guess.