by S Bond Herndon

Created on: June 16, 2008

Finally! A new take on an old theme in film: The Serial Killer.

But, Kevin Costner as a serial killer? Let's just say, this reviewer was a bit more than skeptical when time came to see this one. I will state from the beginning, this one surprised me- -not an easy thing to do.

A successful entrepreneur Brooks (Costner) is at the pinnacle of his career. He is wealthy, married to a beautiful wife (played by Marg Helgenberger) and has a college student daughter (convincingly played by Danielle Panabaker). And, he just happens to be sometimes controlled by his murderous alter ego Marshall (William Hurt).

Calmly and with a fascinating coldness to his actions, Brooks and Marshall know every trick in the book on getting into a home, evading alarms and leaving no DNA, to put a spectacular kill on the books. Photos are taken to preserve the moment, but they are not kept because Marshall is ever vigilant about not getting caught. His warnings have saved them from detection time and again.

Homicide detective Tracy Atwood (Demi Moore) has it in for the killer who has evaded her capture for far too long. She is as determined to make the collar as Brooks is to not be caught.

No sooner do Brooks and Marshall commit a new murder than a stranger walks in with photos of the murder taking place, shot through a window that Brooks absentmindedly didn't notice until too late. This stranger (Dane Cook) is not blackmailing Brooks for money, he wants in on the next kill!

Brooks has little time to digest the request because his daughter has just come home from school and announced that she is pregnant and quitting college.

Marshall is pushing for Brooks to take care of the most prevalent problem, the strange killer-wanna-be calling himself Mr. Smith. Marshall also suspects that there is some other problem that pregnant daughter Jane isn't telling them Some secret that even Brooks can feel the weight of, though it has yet to be told.

What can be so terrible that she would tell of an unwanted pregnancy and drop out of school over?

Soon, Brooks has more than he has ever cared to handle at one time. The Police are asking questions Not about what Mr. Brooks has been up to, but about the murder that happened to a friend of Jane's back at school. To make matters worse, Mr. Smith is growing more and more impatient about just who they are going to kill together and when. Brooks is wishing he could stop himself, but the urge to kill is more powerful for him than any drug or booze. He quietly involves himself in reciting the 12-step prayer, asking for the serenity and guidance to take each day as it comes

This film will leave you breathless with the sudden twists and turns. My only detraction was with Demi Moore, who never seemed to fit with the film. She seemed almost a contrivance to this reviewer; as if she were muscling her way into the role. I simply felt the role would have been better played by less of a personality and more of an actor.

Otherwise, this one is highly recommended!

2007 MGM release, running time 120 minutes, rated R for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexual content, nudity and language.

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