Mr. Brooks

2007

Mr. Brooks

Critics Consensus

The setup is intriguing, but Mr. Brooks overstuffs itself with twists and subplots, becoming more preposterous as it goes along.

55%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 159

76%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 597,001
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Movie Info

A hardened detective enters into a tenuous symbiotic relationship with the vicious serial killer she is tracking after earning the respect of the murderous madman in this vicious psychological thriller starring Demi Moore, Kevin Costner, and William Hurt. Earl Brooks (Costner) is a successful businessman, noted philanthropist, and loving father. He's the kind of man whom no one would ever suspect of being a notorious serial killer, but then again history's most dubious psychopaths are often the quiet neighbor whom no one would ever suspect was capable of committing such unspeakable atrocities. Until now, no one has had any reason to link Earl Brooks with the heinous crimes of the dreaded Thumbprint Killer. Even his beautiful wife (Marg Helgenbeger) and teenage daughter (Danielle Panabaker) could never conceive of such an awful truth. But when Mr. Brooks's dark side begins to outshine his sane exterior, an amateur photographer (Dane Cook) captures the killer succumbing to his murderous instinct on film. Now, as Mr. Brooks is pursued by tenacious detective Tracy Atwood (Moore) and forced to bend to the will of an opportunistic bystander, the killer who was once able to keep his murderous alter ego (Hurt) in check finds his control steadily slipping.

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Cast

Kevin Costner
as Earl Brooks
Demi Moore
as Det. Tracy Atwood
Dane Cook
as Mr. Smith
Marg Helgenberger
as Emma Brooks
William Hurt
as Marshall
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
as Hawkins
Danielle Panabaker
as Jane Brooks
Aisha Hinds
as Nancy Hart
Lindsay Crouse
as Captain Lister
Jason Lewis
as Jesse Vialo
Reiko Aylesworth
as Jesse's Lawyer
Matt Schulze
as Thorton Meeks
Yasmine Delawari
as Sunday
Michael Cole
as Atwood's Lawyer
Jim Farnum
as Master of Ceremonies
Megan Brown
as Dancer
Ross Francis
as Dancer
Kit Gwin
as Det. Carfagno
Marcus Hester
as Det. Smolny
Jamie McShane
as Crime Lab Technician
Laura Bailey
as Flight Attendant
Jon Paul Burkhart
as Flight Attendant
Matthew Posey
as AA Leader
Brandon Olive
as Summons Server
Rosie Cafarelli
as Vaughn
Ben Glass
as ER Doctor
Kanin J. Howell
as Pick-Up Driver
Steve Coulter
as Roger
Stephen Michael Ayers
as Mr. Clifford
Mark Scarboro
as Detective
Brad Evans
as Cop
David Gibbons
as Box Plant Manager
Jasa Abreo
as On Plane Flight Attendant
Rommel Sulit
as Japanese Client
Phillip DeVona
as Police Officer
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Critic Reviews for Mr. Brooks

All Critics (159) | Top Critics (47)

  • The good news: there are many twists, turns, subplots and surprises that the coming attractions don't even hint at. The bad news: these twists and turns are so preposterous, or so irrelevant, that they undermine the movie they're meant to tart up.

    Apr 7, 2008 | Full Review…

    David Ansen

    Newsweek
    Top Critic

  • Costner gives a nicely underplayed performance and the film is well enough made to be watchable, if only to find out what enormity will be perpetrated next, and by whom.

    Oct 12, 2007 | Rating: 2/5

    Derek Malcolm

    London Evening Standard
    Top Critic

  • If you can stomach the psychological codswallop of a serial killer keeping the demons at bay via Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, it may well be possible to enjoy this taut-ish thriller.

    Oct 12, 2007 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Cath Clarke

    Guardian
    Top Critic

  • There's plenty to recommend this old-fashioned serial-killer flick.

    Oct 12, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Wendy Ide

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • Despite numerous cutesy twists, it's the gradual unveiling of a warped morality that lures you into Brooks' world.

    Oct 10, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Stella Papamichael

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • This wannabe highbrow horror-thriller is a graceless, unfocused piece of work with a central narrative as tonally schizophrenic and wayward as its lead.

    Jun 23, 2007 | Rating: 2/6 | Full Review…

    David Jenkins

    Time Out
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (159)

Audience Reviews for Mr. Brooks

  • Feb 15, 2016
    Kevin Costner as an uber-analytical serial killer (with William Hurt as his visible/audible subconscious, a riot) versus an angry feminist detective Demi Moore. Loved every frame of this, from the first to the last.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Oct 27, 2013
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]
    Directors C Super Reviewer
  • Oct 21, 2012
    One of the best psychological thrillers in years. You either love it or hate it. I loved it to bits, it's not like any of the other psychological thrillers. A serial killer who hasn't been activated for years decided to start his killing spree again, at the same time, playing cat and mouse with a detective who has been chasing the serial killer for years. All hell break loose when the serial killer made a mistake in his most recent killing. If the little sub-plots can be erased then the film would much more enjoyable to watch. (Seriously, i don't care about Moore's divorce in the film) The casting was perfect for the film, everyone stood out, especially Moore.
    Sylvester K Super Reviewer
  • Dec 27, 2011
    The movie does not waste time and dives right into the mind of a man whose alter ego forces him to kill random people. Most of the time that alter ego sits right behind or next to him. That feels a little odd at first but soon works pretty well actually, mostly thanks to Kevin Costner as Mr. Brooks and William Hurt as dark angel on his shoulder having a great chemistry together. The film's problem is detective Demi Moore, whose character is quite the stereotype and whose storyline includes the majority of the film's plot holes. The movie still manages to avoid the genre's most predictable paths and entertains quite well. Some plot threads lead nowhere, but when the film reaches its final chapter you're still wondering how they're going to solve this and of course you're on Costner's side, even when he is playing a psychotic killer. With every plot twist of the last 15 minutes my final judgement of the film went up and down, but thankfully it stayed on top in the very end, because the last but one was dumb as shit. But as it is: Not bad at all.
    Jens S Super Reviewer
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