p align=’justify’>Kevin Costner stars in this slick serial killer thriller about the mild mannered titular character who struggles with his dark side (which manifests itself visually as William Hurt) who coerces him to kill. Brooks gives in one night and murders a highly sexed couple he has been stalking for some time, and is soon contacted by Dane Cook’s Mr. Smith who has not only witnessed the double murder, but has photographic evidence of the atrocities. Mr. Smith blackmails Mr. Brooks into taking him along on his next murder and so the two plot the perfect murder as Detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) hunts for the killer and grows increasingly suspicious of potential witness Mr. Smith.
The film opens well and the first kill is pretty shocking but it then takes its time setting up separate story threads never quite managing to be a cohesive unit, which makes it seem slower than it most likely is.
The cast is good (although Cook and his character seem out of place) with Costner and Hurt bringing intensity and comic relief to their respective roles and the supporting cast are very capable also.
The film is incredibly bloody and sadly resorts to the cliché stingers for jumps (which work for no other reason than unexpected loud noises cause people to jump), so it may not be to everyone’s taste.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Mr. Brooks is a psychological thriller with humour and exciting set pieces to keep you watching. As a whole it falls a little short of the praise it has received so far in my book, but it’s a decent enough film with good performances.
