Some "B" movies just deliver the goods, and "The Banker" is just such a film. Anyone who has seen any of the numerous "Most Dangerous Game" type clones, will definitely feel on familiar ground. The main difference being that the "hunter" uses as crossbow instead of a rifle, and the stalking takes place in the city instead of the wild countryside. One thing "The Banker" has going for it is a competent performance by Robert Forster. Shanna Reed and Jeff Conway seem pale by comparison, and Duncan Regehr over acts, while Richard Roundtree is mostly wasted in a no name type role. The film does generate some tension, and thankfully there are no car chase time fillers. Definitely worth a viewing by "B" movie admirers. - MERK
16 Reviews
OK 80s thriller
milecanyon4 December 2017
Loved Forster in other movies and wanted to check out some of his earlier work; he's good in this but the script doesn't do much, although the modus operandi of the killer is off the beaten path, at least. The underdog cop just seems to be there as the obligatory buddy cop, dialog and plot aren't bad. They definitely needed to hit the gyms to look for a better boom mic operator, though...all the shenanigans the reporter gets away with are more than a bit implausible, too.
Justly forgotten
Leofwine_draca25 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
THE BANKER is a low budget and justly forgotten crime thriller that's randomly got a 4k remaster on Amazon Prime these days, just one of those oddball things that sometimes happens in film history. Seen today, it's an unremarkable and forgettable affair, with Robert Forster on autopilot duties as a detective hunting for the titular character, a maniac banker with a penchant for murdering prostitutes. Despite the sleazy plot it's a pedestrian affair with lots of talk that doesn't really go anywhere and a real lack of drive and suspense. The most amusing thing about it is seeing the OTT villain's performance so clearly modelled on the Michael Douglas character from WALL STREET.
I wrote 'THE BANKER' (and some trivia concerning same)
DB-5423 September 1999
My name is Dana Augustine and I was the co-story, screenwriter and associate producer on the Robert Forster (of 'JACKIE BROWN' and an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for same) picture called 'THE BANKER.'
According to Bob Forster, Quentin Tarantino (in his days as a video store manager) kept 'THE BANKER' on his 'favorite shelf' and that was one of the reasons (again, according to Forster) that he got, what turned out to be, the Oscar nominated role as 'Max Cherry' in 'JACKIE BROWN.'
Besides all of the other reviews you may have read regarding my film, please take a look at 'THE VIDEOHOUND'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO CULT FLICKS AND TRASH PICS' ... they gave it a review called my script 'smart and funny.'
They gave it a rating of '3 and 1/2 Bones' -- and in comparison, you'll notice that they also gave 'BLADE RUNNER' 3 and 1/2 Bones.
Lastly, this film has a following. For one of many personal examples, I was in a video store once and there was a fella renting my movie. Before telling him WHO I was, in regards as the screenwriter of 'THE BANKER', I asked him what he liked about it. He said, "Ohh man, it's cool. It's weird. I've seen 4 times already."
The good news is, because of this movie, I became a commercial director and have 600 plus commercials under my belt and a ton of awards.
Thanks for your interest in my little cop / killer thriller.
Dana Augustine
According to Bob Forster, Quentin Tarantino (in his days as a video store manager) kept 'THE BANKER' on his 'favorite shelf' and that was one of the reasons (again, according to Forster) that he got, what turned out to be, the Oscar nominated role as 'Max Cherry' in 'JACKIE BROWN.'
Besides all of the other reviews you may have read regarding my film, please take a look at 'THE VIDEOHOUND'S COMPLETE GUIDE TO CULT FLICKS AND TRASH PICS' ... they gave it a review called my script 'smart and funny.'
They gave it a rating of '3 and 1/2 Bones' -- and in comparison, you'll notice that they also gave 'BLADE RUNNER' 3 and 1/2 Bones.
Lastly, this film has a following. For one of many personal examples, I was in a video store once and there was a fella renting my movie. Before telling him WHO I was, in regards as the screenwriter of 'THE BANKER', I asked him what he liked about it. He said, "Ohh man, it's cool. It's weird. I've seen 4 times already."
The good news is, because of this movie, I became a commercial director and have 600 plus commercials under my belt and a ton of awards.
Thanks for your interest in my little cop / killer thriller.
Dana Augustine
The Banker returns low interest.
Skutter-221 August 2006
I would not advise anyone to waste their time with this movie. Its a dull, unmemorable and lame little film. A wealthy banker kills women with his crossbow as part of some hunting ritual from South America which is never really explained or given any elaboration whilst the police investigation headed by Robert Forster tries to get to the bottom of things. I've probably just made the movie sound more interesting than it is. The movie padded out with subplots about a pimp blackmailing the titular banker and Forster's annoying and shrill reporter girlfriend baiting the banker on her news show so she can be kidnapped by him for the predictable finale and also with some pointless soft core sex scenes. Most of the killing scenes are dull and unmemorable and most the movie is by the book padding. The only high points to the film are the presence of Robert Forster, who is still good even in dreck like this and gets a few good lines and one scene later in the movie when the banker deals with his blackmailer. Its such a nifty little scene it doesn't seem to belong in this movie. However, it is not enough to recommend this one.
I Asked Chat GPT To Review In The Style Of Rodney Dangerfield
damianphelps12 April 2023
Hey, let me tell ya about "The Banker," folks. This movie's got more twists and turns than my golf swing! I tell ya, it's a real thriller that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.
The acting in this movie is no joke, folks. Robert Forster gives a performance that's so good, it'll make you forget about my back-to-back-to-back appearances on "The Tonight Show." And Duncan Regehr? He's so convincing as the hitman, I wouldn't be surprised if he was packing heat in real life.
Now, don't get me wrong, this movie isn't perfect. Sometimes it moves slower than a turtle in a tar pit. But hey, even I can't get laughs all the time.
All in all, "The Banker" is a solid movie that's worth a watch. It may not be as well-known as some other crime thrillers, but it's got heart and soul, just like my golf game. So go ahead and give it a shot, folks. You won't be disappointed!
The acting in this movie is no joke, folks. Robert Forster gives a performance that's so good, it'll make you forget about my back-to-back-to-back appearances on "The Tonight Show." And Duncan Regehr? He's so convincing as the hitman, I wouldn't be surprised if he was packing heat in real life.
Now, don't get me wrong, this movie isn't perfect. Sometimes it moves slower than a turtle in a tar pit. But hey, even I can't get laughs all the time.
All in all, "The Banker" is a solid movie that's worth a watch. It may not be as well-known as some other crime thrillers, but it's got heart and soul, just like my golf game. So go ahead and give it a shot, folks. You won't be disappointed!
Starts Out Great. Then falls apart.
gene-0720223 January 2021
You can take that to the BANK!
KnatLouie19 December 2008
Well, that would be a great line if it were in the movie.. but it ain't. On the other hand, this movie has a LOT of great quotes, and some really good, memorable performances.
The story is very simple: A wealthy banker (played brilliantly by Duncan Regehr, who some of us may remember from the TV-series "Zorro") goes nuts after a trip in the jungle, and starts killing random hookers and call-girls all around town (or even in his own house) just for the hell of it. His two prey-providing pimps, are Fowler (Leif Garrett "Walking Tall 1-3"), who doesn't care about anything but money, and Cowboy (Jeff Conaway from "Taxi" and "Celebrity Rehab"), who tries to find the man who has been killing his girls - but as it turns out, not to avenge their deaths or to turn him in, but to CASH IN on his knowledge to the fact.. well, we all know what happens then..
Anyway, there's this cop, Dan (Robert Forster, "Jackie Brown") also on The Banker's tail, because he is apparently targeting a news-anchor woman with a conscience (played by the relatively unknown Shanna Reed), and Dan doesn't want to see her get hurt, and with some help from his captain (Richard Roundtree aka "Shaft") and his new rookie partner Eddie (Juan García), he finally gets close to the bad guy, but still lacks sufficient hard evidence to capture and jail him.. what to do then? I'm not gonna spoil it.. use your imagination, kids.
To round out the ensemble cast, Michael Fairman ("Dead Silence", "Forces of Nature") plays the TV-station boss, and the lovely Deborah Richter (the cyborg from "Cyborg") plays an unfortunate call-girl.. as does future porn-star Teri Weigel (from "Predator 2" fame). And then there's the cameo from future screen-writer Richard Brandes (who wrote "Martial Law 1+2") as a yuppie who tries to stab The Banker.. and we all know what happens to random punks trying to match up to major bad guys in 1980s B-movies.. that's right, they become Hollywood Screenwriters.
So, all in all a generally entertaining action-thriller, with a blatant serial-killer who sports full Indian warpaint and usually kills his victims with a crossbow before his disembowels them.. often whilst whistling the theme from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Awesome.
The story is very simple: A wealthy banker (played brilliantly by Duncan Regehr, who some of us may remember from the TV-series "Zorro") goes nuts after a trip in the jungle, and starts killing random hookers and call-girls all around town (or even in his own house) just for the hell of it. His two prey-providing pimps, are Fowler (Leif Garrett "Walking Tall 1-3"), who doesn't care about anything but money, and Cowboy (Jeff Conaway from "Taxi" and "Celebrity Rehab"), who tries to find the man who has been killing his girls - but as it turns out, not to avenge their deaths or to turn him in, but to CASH IN on his knowledge to the fact.. well, we all know what happens then..
Anyway, there's this cop, Dan (Robert Forster, "Jackie Brown") also on The Banker's tail, because he is apparently targeting a news-anchor woman with a conscience (played by the relatively unknown Shanna Reed), and Dan doesn't want to see her get hurt, and with some help from his captain (Richard Roundtree aka "Shaft") and his new rookie partner Eddie (Juan García), he finally gets close to the bad guy, but still lacks sufficient hard evidence to capture and jail him.. what to do then? I'm not gonna spoil it.. use your imagination, kids.
To round out the ensemble cast, Michael Fairman ("Dead Silence", "Forces of Nature") plays the TV-station boss, and the lovely Deborah Richter (the cyborg from "Cyborg") plays an unfortunate call-girl.. as does future porn-star Teri Weigel (from "Predator 2" fame). And then there's the cameo from future screen-writer Richard Brandes (who wrote "Martial Law 1+2") as a yuppie who tries to stab The Banker.. and we all know what happens to random punks trying to match up to major bad guys in 1980s B-movies.. that's right, they become Hollywood Screenwriters.
So, all in all a generally entertaining action-thriller, with a blatant serial-killer who sports full Indian warpaint and usually kills his victims with a crossbow before his disembowels them.. often whilst whistling the theme from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Awesome.
Amusing Fun!
ajkelly835 October 2006
This is the type of movie you shouldn't approach with high expectations. If you do, you'll be extremely disappointed. However, if you approach this movie with low expectations, and remember that it was made in 89' you will probably enjoy this film for what it is; an amusing thriller. Of course the dialogue is a bit lame, and the acting can be very wooden, but if you sit back, and have a couple of drinks, you'll probably find this movie hilarious. I know I did! The concept of the movie is great to begin with; A rich banker is going around murdering prostitutes with a cross-bow...I mean how awesome is that? He wears fantastic face paint and runs around bare chested. Of course, the movie is extremely predictable and I wouldn't recommend that you buy it, but if you see it at the video store and want a laugh, rent it out! You may regret it....
I'm her father!...nah im just kidding, im a cop
matthewrochette15 June 2022
I'm surprised this Robert Forster flick flew under my radar for as long as it did, because this movie is right up my alley. 80's cop action with more quotable lines then you can shake a stick at, I couldn't recommend this more. Robert Forster looks like he's having the time of his life, effortlessly firing out one-liners left and right. A memorable crossbow-wielding weirdo of a bad guy. Kanicki from Grease as a pimp named Cowboy. Not even 2 minutes in and you got a topless Teri Weigel earning her SAG card. What more could you ask for???
80s Cheesy Crime Thriller
ladymidath2 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Banker isn't as bad as some of these types of thrillers made during the 80s and 90s. It's a take on The Most Dangerous Game. A wealthy banker is a sociopath who torments and murders women while a detective works to solve the murders. His ex is a reporter who reports on the slayings.
The story is easy to follow and the acting isn't too bad. A fun thriller to watch.
The story is easy to follow and the acting isn't too bad. A fun thriller to watch.
80's cheesy hokeum take on the Most Dangerous Game
Captain_Couth7 October 2003
Duncan Regher is THE BANKER. He's a mild mannered Banker by day, at night he's a sociopathic homo sapien hunter. Being a good sport, Duncan always give's his weaker prey a second chance. Robert Forester (80's DTV star) plays a cop who's hot on the Banker's trail. Faded 70's Pop Star Leif Garrett makes an apperence as one of the Banker's trophy's and Taxi's Jeff Conaway co-stars as well.
Mindless fun. Worth watching.
B
Mindless fun. Worth watching.
B
A Cult Classic Serial Killer Thriller!!! Robert Forster gives an Incredible Performance.
lukem-5276020 October 2022
The great legendary ROBERT FORSTER is the reason i searched for his film & he didn't disappoint.
The late great Robert Forster truly gives a blistering performance, next best performance after Jackie Brown!!! Forster is full of fire on screen as he's hilarious with dialogue thats littered with gems, "This is some Weird Shi# Kid" & makes for one of the best movie cops of the B-movie erotic thriller genre. Honestly Forster is such a joy on screen that i couldn't wait to watch the movie again. Also the music score is beautifully steamy erotic 80's.
Been a huge fan of Forster since his outstanding performance in Tarantino's MASTERPIECE JACKIE BROWN (1997), thank you Tarantino for introducing me to the brilliance of Robert Forster.
Here Forster plays a rogue cop named Dan, a gruff guy that plays by his own rules & Forster plays him perfectly. Every word that comes out of Forster's mouth is cinematic gold. Forster has given many excellent performances such as in Jackie Brown & Vigilante & Alligator & definitely right here in THE BANKER.
Dan (Forster) is an L. A cop on the trail of a sadistic serial killer that hunts prostitutes with a crossbow & he has Los Angeles in a grip of fear. This killer is a rich banker that has money & power & uses that to entice his victims & then the hunt begins. The movie is filmed so well & looks great, the full budget was used to perfection.
Dan's ex-wife is a journalist named Sharon & is played by an excellent Shanna Reed who starts getting calls from the killer & that makes her famous & a target. Sharon is an excellent character as she's not afraid to say who she thinks even if it can put her in danger & Shanna Reed really gives her role meaningful depth, she's not a typical damsel in distress & she speaks from her heart as seen in the great gem of a scene where she's supposed to do her little "fluff piece" of a report live on the news just after the previous news caster has just described how a woman has been brutally murdered & Sharon gets really upset & angry & says basically that the murdered woman deserves more than a few seconds before moving onto something ridiculous. I've always thought that news people should speak out on their platform & get angered because the stuff they report is horrendous. Shanna Reed really delivered a great performance & worked so well with Robert Forster.
Also in the cast the legendary RICHARD ROWNDTREE (Shaft, Maniac Cop, Party Line) who is perfectly cast as the stressed police Captain, he plays a hard-ass cop Captain to perfection & did so in many other films such as Maniac Cop & Party Line, for an example. The cast is strong, even the killer is played by The Monster Squads Dracula.
The film looks good for a low-budget B-movie & has that nice old school Erotic-Thriller feel to it, you know some sleaze & slaughter like hundreds of DTV Thriller's of the past video store days. The Banker is a reminder of how fun & thrilling films were back in the glory days of video & makes me miss those times even more. The kills are done fine & aren't extremely bloody or violent but done effectively like a cop thriller.
The look of the film is great fun & the music is so old school cool. Robert Forster is the selling point here & he's so great on screen.
All in all, The Banker is a very good old fashioned video store thriller with a top notch performance by the great Robert Forster (R. I. P)
The late great Robert Forster truly gives a blistering performance, next best performance after Jackie Brown!!! Forster is full of fire on screen as he's hilarious with dialogue thats littered with gems, "This is some Weird Shi# Kid" & makes for one of the best movie cops of the B-movie erotic thriller genre. Honestly Forster is such a joy on screen that i couldn't wait to watch the movie again. Also the music score is beautifully steamy erotic 80's.
Been a huge fan of Forster since his outstanding performance in Tarantino's MASTERPIECE JACKIE BROWN (1997), thank you Tarantino for introducing me to the brilliance of Robert Forster.
Here Forster plays a rogue cop named Dan, a gruff guy that plays by his own rules & Forster plays him perfectly. Every word that comes out of Forster's mouth is cinematic gold. Forster has given many excellent performances such as in Jackie Brown & Vigilante & Alligator & definitely right here in THE BANKER.
Dan (Forster) is an L. A cop on the trail of a sadistic serial killer that hunts prostitutes with a crossbow & he has Los Angeles in a grip of fear. This killer is a rich banker that has money & power & uses that to entice his victims & then the hunt begins. The movie is filmed so well & looks great, the full budget was used to perfection.
Dan's ex-wife is a journalist named Sharon & is played by an excellent Shanna Reed who starts getting calls from the killer & that makes her famous & a target. Sharon is an excellent character as she's not afraid to say who she thinks even if it can put her in danger & Shanna Reed really gives her role meaningful depth, she's not a typical damsel in distress & she speaks from her heart as seen in the great gem of a scene where she's supposed to do her little "fluff piece" of a report live on the news just after the previous news caster has just described how a woman has been brutally murdered & Sharon gets really upset & angry & says basically that the murdered woman deserves more than a few seconds before moving onto something ridiculous. I've always thought that news people should speak out on their platform & get angered because the stuff they report is horrendous. Shanna Reed really delivered a great performance & worked so well with Robert Forster.
Also in the cast the legendary RICHARD ROWNDTREE (Shaft, Maniac Cop, Party Line) who is perfectly cast as the stressed police Captain, he plays a hard-ass cop Captain to perfection & did so in many other films such as Maniac Cop & Party Line, for an example. The cast is strong, even the killer is played by The Monster Squads Dracula.
The film looks good for a low-budget B-movie & has that nice old school Erotic-Thriller feel to it, you know some sleaze & slaughter like hundreds of DTV Thriller's of the past video store days. The Banker is a reminder of how fun & thrilling films were back in the glory days of video & makes me miss those times even more. The kills are done fine & aren't extremely bloody or violent but done effectively like a cop thriller.
The look of the film is great fun & the music is so old school cool. Robert Forster is the selling point here & he's so great on screen.
All in all, The Banker is a very good old fashioned video store thriller with a top notch performance by the great Robert Forster (R. I. P)
Great film
mharrison-1762718 May 2020
Plodding manhunt film
lor_5 May 2023
My review was written in December 1989 after watching the movie on MCEG/Virgin video cassette.
A bank chairman as a heartless monster? What sounds like a job description is the basis for an effective horror tale in the flasher genre.
William Webb, shose films have inevitably gone direct to video, makes no pretense at making a whodunit here. We're immediately informed that banker Duncan Regehr is killing call girls, then ritualistically mutilating their bodies. It seems he's following some ancient South American Indian practice, even painting his face and using a crossbow.
Robert Forster is the plodding cop tracking him down. Giving the film an interesting wrinkle is Forster's old flame, Shanna Ree, who becomes a successful newscaster and wins popular support when her uncensored outrage at the killer is allowed to be broadcast. Regehr becomes one of her biggest fans and then turns against her in a love-hate fashion.
Though low on suspense, pic benefits from casting of such luscious actresses as Teri Weigel and Deborah Richter as the targets of Regehr's bloodlust. There are overt overtones of "The Most Dangerous Game" as he often refers to hunt down his human prey.
A bank chairman as a heartless monster? What sounds like a job description is the basis for an effective horror tale in the flasher genre.
William Webb, shose films have inevitably gone direct to video, makes no pretense at making a whodunit here. We're immediately informed that banker Duncan Regehr is killing call girls, then ritualistically mutilating their bodies. It seems he's following some ancient South American Indian practice, even painting his face and using a crossbow.
Robert Forster is the plodding cop tracking him down. Giving the film an interesting wrinkle is Forster's old flame, Shanna Ree, who becomes a successful newscaster and wins popular support when her uncensored outrage at the killer is allowed to be broadcast. Regehr becomes one of her biggest fans and then turns against her in a love-hate fashion.
Though low on suspense, pic benefits from casting of such luscious actresses as Teri Weigel and Deborah Richter as the targets of Regehr's bloodlust. There are overt overtones of "The Most Dangerous Game" as he often refers to hunt down his human prey.
See also
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