‘How to Rob a Bank’ Review: New Netflix True Crime Documentary Is A Wild, Unpredictable Ride
I just finished the Netflix original film How to Rob a Bank, and I can still feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins. It may be slightly unorthodox to refer to a documentary as ‘high-octane’. But that’s the perfect descriptor for How to Rob a Bank. This film plays out very much like narrative fiction. The first-hand accounts of those who survived the incredible ordeal profiled within are intense and compelling. Directors Seth Porges and Stephen Robert Morse take the viewer on a wild ride that gets more unbelievable with each passing minute.
How to Rob a Bank is a true crime documentary where the character at the core of the story is every bit as fascinating as the hijinks in which he becomes embroiled. The picture profiles the rise and fall of Scott Scurlock, a prolific bank robber known to law enforcement as ‘Hollywood’. We follow his journey from humble beginnings as a manufacturer of top-quality methamphetamine through his eventual pivot to robbing banks, culminating in a series of vault heists totaling millions of dollars in ill-begotten gains.
Also Read: ‘The Watchers’ Review: An Ambitious Yet Rocky Debut From Ishana Night Shyamalan
The Hollywood Bank Robber built and lived in a massive tree house in the Seattle area. He was a free spirit who couldn’t be held back by convention. He rarely wore clothes, even when entertaining guests. Scurlock is truly a one-of-a-kind character and learning what made him tick is nothing short of fascinating.
The film functions as a psychological profile of a man with limitless potential who was too smart for his own good. Destined for greatness (or infamy) from an early age, we come to see Scott as an adrenaline junky who began robbing banks as much for the rush (or probably more so) as for the monetary gain. Though not explicitly stated in these exact words, it comes across as if crime became an addiction for Scott. Entries from his journal and accounts from his friends show he had certain reservations about his life of misadventure. But one gets the impression he needed the danger, the rush, the adrenaline spike. And like an addict embroiled in the throes of substance abuse, Scott became singularly fixated on his next high, losing sight of almost everything else.
Also Read: ‘Silent Slayer VR’ Review: An Escape Room to Sink Your Teeth Into
How To Rob A Bank also profiles several of Scott Scurlock’s collaborators, including Steve Meyers, who previously worked as an artist. Interestingly, Meyers says the work he did with Scott involved far more creativity than his actual artwork. I initially found that statement perplexing. But as soon as Meyers provided context, it clicked. He and Scott didn’t just succeed based on blind luck. There really is an art form to what they did. They studied the comings and goings of local law enforcement and strategically planned their crimes with the explicit intent of doing the exact opposite of what the police and FBI anticipated. Scurlock and company were so efficient they managed to take multiple banks for millions over the years they were active. They frequently bucked convention and even hit some locations multiple times over.
In addition to going out of his way to keep the authorities guessing, Scott took inspiration from cinema, of all places. He studied movies like Point Break and Heat and used them to become a better criminal mastermind. His real-life exploits often paralleled the events of the films he used as inspiration, giving the documentary an extra measure of cinematic flare.
Also Read: ‘The Shrouds’ Cannes 2024 Review: David Cronenberg’s Latest Is The Saddest Body Horror You’ll See All Year
I mean it when I say Scott took inspiration from the movies. He committed his first bank robbery in a rubber mask inspired by the crew from Point Break. However, he quickly recognized that walking into a financial institution with a mask over one’s face hinders the element of surprise. Not one to let anything stand in his way, Scott found a workaround that disguised his identity but allowed him to blend. He used latex prosthetics like those employed by effects artists in Hollywood. That allowed him to conceal his identity while blending in with the crowd.
Scott isn’t the only compelling character in this story, mind you. To take down a cunning criminal, you need a worthy adversary. The FBI team (and local law enforcement personnel) who investigated Hollywood share their anecdotes and chronicle the epic takedown that finally brought the prolific criminal to justice.
Also Read: ‘Exhuma’ Review: Hey, Shaman. Leave Those Graves Alone.
Directors Stephen Robert Morse and Seth Porges take care to track down surviving players in the heist ring, and those who knew Scott best, to paint a compelling portrait of an infamous character. They effectively use candid archival footage of Scott and combine that with his journal entries, giving us further insight into his state of mind. The diary entries, in particular, serve as a fascinating portrait of the emptiness he came to feel, truly echoing the sentiment that money and possessions can’t buy happiness.
I absolutely recommend How to Rob a Bank. The doc is as compelling as true crime fare gets. And Scott Scurlock’s story is so outrageous you’ll have to see it to believe it. The film is exclusively available on Netflix.
-
‘How to Rob a Bank'
Summary
‘How to Rob a Bank’ is gripping, intense, and colorful.
