El banquero

A tough city Cop (Robert Forster) determinedly tracks down a vicious predatory serial killer (Duncan Regehr), a degenerate yuppie sleaze who targets high-priced prostitutes. Stylized, formulaic, and garishly entertaining, William Webb's lurid 80s psycho-thriller is agreeably inflected with grisly slasher trope tendencies. This mostly engaging, relatively obscure thriller merits from a pretty solid cast, suffers from a so-so text, and perks up with a rewardingly blood-caked cop vs grandstanding psycho climax. While the kicks are minimal, it's still kinda fun watching this prototypically boozy, donut-chugging cop go after a creepy, crossbow-weilding soul-stealing whackjob.

I would classify this one as more of a thriller, rather than a slasher/horror film. Granted, there is a part near the end of the film that resembles something from a horror film, but it also felt out of place. This one had some entertaining qualities as it had Robert Forster who is usually good in this type of role and it was cool watching him try and find the creepy killer, but at times it veered into boring territory and pointless territory with unneeded subplots and characters.

The story has a guy kill a prostitute to open the film. Soon Forster is on the case and his ex who is a reporter goes insane trying to load the killer into striking. Meanwhile, the killer is rich and buys her station which kind of was pointless. Then a guy knows this dude is a killer and instead of telling the police he decides to do a little blackmail. Still, Robert Forster keeps getting closer and so does the reporter ex, dangerously so.

I like Robert Forster here and the guy who was Shaft is good as the chief. The reporter is annoying and the killer is okay. He gets more creepy as the film progresses. Still, the film needed more as it is just feels like it is missing a crucial ingredient.

So, I did not mind watching this one, but it was far from a good film. Forster carries the film, a couple of kills though nothing all that great as the killer uses a crossbow. Some nudity in this one as well. Kind of entertaining, but in a generic 80s movie kind of way.

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....

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.

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