The lead character in “Mr. Brooks” gives good citizenship a badname. Not only that, he’s a psychotic killer.

Allowing Kevin Costner the opportunity to play a characterdecidedly different from his usual onscreen persona, “Mr. Brooks"is not the ultimate in crafty psychological thrillers, but it’scertainly something different and surprising, and fearless in itscoldblooded approach. To keep us further off guard, there are alsosmall doses of dark comedy to lighten the mood.

In “Mr. Brooks,” Costner plays a successful Portlandbusinessman, recently named Man of the Year, who seems to have itall with his nice home, beautiful and adoring wife (MargHelgenberger), loving college-age daughter (Danielle Panabaker) andthe respect of all those who know him. It’s more than alarmingthen, when we soon see this is a guy who sneaks out at night andmurders innocent strangers.

Brooks suffers from some kind of psychotic disorder that compelshim to kill, and even though he works hard to fight these impulses--- he attends AA meetings and admits he’s an “addict” -- he canonly calm these desires for a short spell before he kills again.Brooks is driven to these meticulously well-planned acts ofviolence by a voice inside his head that we see as a man (WilliamHurt) who sits in the car with Brooks and offers encouragement andrationale.

Things will soon begin to unravel. While committing his latestcrime, Brooks was photographed by a witness (Dane Cook) who ishimself unhinged, and blackmails Brooks into letting him accompanythe killer on his next outing. When his daughter arrives home fromcollege unexpectedly, Brooks senses something is wrong. And a toughpolice detective (Demi Moore) is now closer than ever to solvingthe case, but is dealing with heated issues of her own, including arevenge-minded killer (a different killer) who has escaped prisonand is on her trail.

All of these elements conspire to bring higher drama to anotherwise complacent setting, and much of the intrigue andinspiration in the film arrives from the many contradictions. Boutsof complacency are interrupted by waves of upsetting behavior. It’san uneasy flow that compels us to view with caution.

This isn’t to say that “Mr. Brooks” places itself among themasters in this subgenre, that of the good-guy loon, of horrorlurking beneath pleasantry. It does feel a little choppy andincohesive at times, and style is mostly missing, by design. Butthe film in part engages because we have not seen Costner in thisrole before, and that makes us sit up and pay attention. Also,because a few different plot lines are explored carefully and withequal creativity.

“Mr. Brooks” is a different breed, smarter than acharacter-twister such as the recent “Perfect Stranger,” evolvingas something creepy but also adequately compelling.

B “Mr. Brooks”

Starring: Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, William Hurt, Dane Cook

Director: Bruce A. Evans

Studio: MGM

Rated: R (for strong bloody violence, some graphic sexualcontent, nudity, language)

Running time: 120 minutes

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With sneaky ‘Mr. Brooks,’ all not well in paradise