The Banker

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

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.

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.

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!

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.