Violência Além dos Limites

Was decent. Should've been a comedy but it really wasn't a bad flick.

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

The Banker is a real B-movie. According to lead actor Robert Forster, this film was one of director Quentin Tarantino's favorites, when he was still working at a video store. It would be this film that landed Forster a role in Tarantino's film Jackie Brown.

Foster plays the bad ass cop who is hot on the heels of a serial killer who likes bizarre South American rituals.

But it never rises above average, and Spaulding's motives remain shrouded in mystery.

It is also clear that the budget was too low to give the film a more professional look, but the premise wasn't that bad.

This film had some potential but the end result is a bit of a failure.

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.

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