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Kevin Costner, William Hurt, Demi Moore, Danielle Paabaker, Marg Helgenberger, Dane Cook. Written by Bruce Evans, Raynold Gideon. Directed by Bruce Evans.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Earl Brooks is a loving family man and local business icon, a hero to all. But Mr. Brooks has one small character flaw. You see, he enjoys murdering complete strangers. And while committing one of his clandestine killings, spurred on by his devilish alter ego (William Hurt), the crime is witnessed by a voyeuristic neighbor. And this is where Mr. Brooks’ life becomes a bit more complicated. It turns out the spying neighbor has an unusual blackmail demand – he wants to go along for the ride.

Also dogged by tenacious detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore), who’s battling her own demons and a vengeful ex-con bent on killing her, Mr. Brooks soon discovers that his college dropout, pregnant daughter has her own sick secret – she too enjoys the thrill of the kill.

PREVIEW REVIEW: This may be Mr. Costner’s best performance. It’s intense, controlled, and mesmerizing. The story, though over the top (three serial killers for the price of one), is nonetheless suspenseful, even terrifying. And the premise is unnerving – an upper crust, praying, pro-lifer breaks into locked houses with the mastery of a Mission Impossible regular and shoots people in their beds. Doesn’t get any creepier than that.

Although it is well made, I have a couple of problems with Mr. Brooks. Along with having to sit through the usual R-rated explicit content, which is neither creative nor soul satisfying, the movie stirs up a paranoiac fear that each new person met may harbor a dangerous secret side. And of course, the maniac is a hypocrite who prays and believes in the rights of the unborn.

From years of studying movies and their makers, I get the feeling that some in that industry relish the exploitation of a religious person who is discovered to be a wrongdoer. Now, to be fair, perhaps this film’s intent is not so covert. Maybe the character is written as a man of prayer and a pro-lifer merely to give him dimension, and not meant as a swipe at religious folk. But have you noticed, these found-out hypocrites are never followers of Buddha or Gandhi? In the movies, it’s always a conservative Christian who turns out to be the real threat. Why is that?

Video Alternative: HARVEY. Here’s a story about another guy with a secret. James Stewart stars as a gentle soul by the name of Elwood P. Dowd who likes everybody–including his invisible six-foot rabbit, Harvey. Funny and heart-warming.

Distributor: MGM