“How to Rob a Bank” is a Netflix documentary directed by Seth Porges and Stephen Robert Morse.
In the bustling city of Seattle during the early 90s, a man with an affinity for Hollywood heist movies embarked on a daring spree of bank heists, earning him the nickname “Hollywood” among FBI agents. This gentleman astonishingly managed to rob four banks in a single afternoon. This same setting gave rise to tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon, coffee powerhouse Starbucks, and the legendary grunge band Nirvana.
Scott Scurlock, bright and educated in medicine, biology, and chemistry, had an insatiable love for money. He made a hefty fortune manufacturing methamphetamines and when that needed to stop, he turned his attention to robbing banks. Forming a group, they began with small-scale heists, with meager hauls of $2,000 or $3,000. But when Scott hit the main vault, their heists grew, attracting the attention of the FBI.
Netflix’s “How to Rob a Bank” is an engaging documentary that tells this absorbing story with a nostalgic twist. It spotlights Scott Scurlock as the charismatic leader of the band of robbers. His former crime partners vividly recount their heist planning and execution. However, the lack of direct testimonies from Scott, who passed away in 1996 when he was just 40, is a significant absence in this documentary that largely revolves around his personality.
The documentary imparts a sense of nostalgia for the 90s, peppered with an abundance of archival footage. It employs animations to recreate the heists, dramatizations, as well as interviews with surviving gang members and the FBI agents who handled the case. The filmmaking also comes with a touch of humor and plenty of cinematic references in music, editing, and overall styling. It’s light, entertaining, and, true to its Hollywood inspiration, steers clear of ringing any social alarm bells.
The documentary presents a cheerful, relaxed narration of Hollywood-style heists carried out by an eccentric, somewhat hippy gang of robbers. Despite being a depiction of events from years past, it’s still an enjoyable trip down memory lane to the 90s and offers an intriguing insight into this unique group of criminals.
Where to Watch “How to Rob a Bank”
