Mr. Brooks (2007)

Earl Brooks, a respected businessman, leads a secret life as a serial killer. Despite his effort to curb his “killing addiction,” Brooks succumbs to his id, Marshall, and kills a young couple in their bedroom. As part of his psychopathology, Brooks leaves each victim’s bloody thumbprint on a lampshade, an act that spawned the nickname the “Thumbprint Killer”. He follows a meticulous modus operandi, including fastidious preparation, cleansing the crime scene, posing the bodies, and even locking doors before departing. Brooks realizes later that the bedroom curtains were open during the murder, the window facing an apartment building.

Brooks’ daughter, Jane, unexpectedly arrives home and asks for a job at his company, having dropped out of college. Later, Brooks learns that Jane is pregnant. Soon after, the Brooks are visited by Palo Alto detectives investigating a murder in Jane’s former campus dorm. Brooks realizes that Jane committed the murder. He briefly considers allowing her to be caught to “save her” from becoming like him. He changes his mind and commits a similar murder in Palo Alto to provide Jane with an alibi. A man calling himself “Mister Smith” approaches Brooks. Having a direct view at the murdered couple’s bedroom, Smith took pictures of Brooks’ crime. He demands to accompany Brooks during a murder. Brooks reluctantly agrees, warning Smith that killing can become addictive.