By Katherine Ramsland 

June 4, 2007

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Can serial killers pass on to their progeny a compulsion to kill?  That's a question raised by the film, " Mr. Brooks," starring Kevin Costner as Earl Brooks.  He plays a seemingly normal and successful businessman with a family and a desire to help others.  He's even a philanthropist and Portland, Oregon's Man of the year.  He also has an evil alter ego, Marshall (William Hurt), which some may view as a dissociated personality, but that syndrome is not the right frame: this is more of an inner conversation externalized.  In any event, Marshall is the chatty cheerleader for murder.  One more player is the driven and dour detective, Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore), who's hot on the trail of the "Thumbprint Killer."  The film's main problem is excessive explaining, but the plot twists at least keep it moving.

Mr. Brooks Movie Poster

Bruce Evans is both director and co-writer with Raynold Gideon.  Together they've posed Brooks as a man who feels violent impulses common to us all, but who acts them out for his own satisfaction — and a pretty serious rush.  Some critics have denounced the script as preposterous and slick, with too many coincidences, but there are provocative aspects as well, such as the murder "disease" angle.  In addition, Costner's character, who knows the danger of loose ends, genuinely is smart about his movements, if not so smart about his family.

Kevin Costner as Mr. Brooks

What makes Brooks stand apart from the typical serial killer is that he's good at reading people.  He knows what to look for in terms of vulnerability and he absorbs the details of their lives as part of his kick during the murder.  He also enjoys the fact that he's smart enough to outwit victim and detective alike.  Yet, he does share a weakness with killers like BTK, Son of Sam and Zodiac: he wants "credit" for something well done.

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by Katherine Ramsland

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