The man who has everything has everything to hide.|Jun. 01, 2007|United States|120 Min.|R
Genre: Crime;Thriller
Description: Earl Brooks, a highly regarded businessman, hides a dark secret: he is a serial killer. Despite his attempts to overcome his “killing addiction,” Brooks gives in to his inner impulses, represented by his alter ego Marshall, and murders a young couple in their bedroom. As part of his signature ritual, he leaves each victim’s bloody thumbprint on a lampshade, earning him the nickname the “Thumbprint Killer.” Brooks meticulously plans each crime, ensuring the scene is cleaned, the bodies are posed, and the doors are locked before leaving. However, he later realizes the bedroom curtains were open during the murder, exposing the scene to a nearby apartment building.
Brooks’ life takes a turn when his daughter, Jane, unexpectedly returns home after dropping out of college and asks for a job at his company. Soon, Brooks discovers that Jane is pregnant. Around the same time, Palo Alto detectives arrive to investigate a murder in Jane’s former campus dorm. Brooks quickly realizes Jane committed the crime. Initially, he contemplates letting her face the consequences to “save her” from following in his footsteps. However, he changes his mind and stages a similar murder in Palo Alto to provide her with an alibi.
Meanwhile, a man calling himself “Mister Smith” approaches Brooks, revealing that he witnessed the couple’s murder from his apartment and took photographs of the crime. Smith demands to accompany Brooks during his next killing. Reluctantly, Brooks agrees, warning Smith that killing can become addictive. Detective Tracy Atwood, who is dealing with her own struggles, including a difficult divorce, begins investigating the case, interviewing Smith and other residents near the crime scene. Brooks decides to target Atwood’s ex-husband, Jesse Vialo, and his lawyer for Smith’s first crime. At the scene of Vialo’s murder, Smith is overwhelmed and loses control.
Cast director: Bruce A. Evans
Cast actor: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt, Marg Helgenberger, Danielle Panabaker, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Reiko Aylesworth, Matt Schulze, Yasmine Delawari
Original name: Mr. Brooks