EVIL GENIUS: THE TRUE STORY OF AMERICA’S MOST DIABOLICAL BANK HEIST: Strangely Gripping

In 2003, in Erie, Pennsylvania, a man walked into a bank with a collar around his neck containing a bomb, and a gun that looked like a cane. He handed the bank teller a note requesting $250,000 or else the bomb would go off. His name is Brian Wells, he was a pizza delivery man, and whether he’s an accomplice to the crime or merely a victim, is just one of many questions that’ll be unanswered in Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist.

Intrigued? I was. In what seems like a trend, the Duplass Brothers‘ production company teamed with Netflix again to bring us another bizarre tale, much like Wild, Wild Country. While not as outlandish, or quite as absorbing as Wild, Wild Country, it’s still a captivating slice of history. Delivered in four episodes, it all starts with a botched bank robbery, but where it goes from there is much harder to summarize.

The Pizza Bomber Heist And The Murder Of Brian Wells

To unlock the collar from around his neck he’d have to rob the bank, and then follow the clues through a sort of scavenger hunt, collecting keys. Brian never makes it beyond the first clue, and as the police have him cornered, the bomb goes off. As you watch the real video, hearing this man’s plea for help, it’s heartbreaking. It is also necessary (but none the less disturbing, for anyone squeamish) because it sets up the tone that this documentary frequently grapples with. It often flits between outrageous and distressing, which is why the title Evil Genius is so fitting.

It all comes down to Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. As we learn, Marjorie was an attractive enthusiastic musical prodigy, who became unraveled by her mental illness. In and out of hospital stays, she had multiple boyfriends, and many of them ended up dead (including one they found in a freezer). Somehow, she managed to escape any legal implications, and eventually, plan this heist. Her involvement is evident throughout, though she maintains her innocence in areas. As so many of the others involved attest, she’s incredibly intelligent. Which makes Marjorie also very fascinating.

Is she an evil mastermind?

One of those ex-boyfriends was William “Bill” Rothstein, who initiated contact with the police after the bombing, alluding to a body in his freezer. The body is that of James Roden, and he claims that Marjorie paid him to help her clean up the murder, and that she was extremely manipulative. This in turn, brings Marjorie into the fray, and exposes an entire group of middle-aged hoarders, who eventually are all connected to the robbery.

As the episodes continue we hear about various perspectives on who was the mastermind, with Marjorie claiming Bill was, and vice versa. One of the others, a drug dealer named Kenneth Barnes, claimed it was Marjorie. There are several points of view on the robbery, and who provided the components for the bomb, but one blaring consistency that can’t be ignored: Marjorie.

In the first episode we’re introduced to the true-crime story, and just like the police at the time, we’re left stunned. With the second episode, we’re presented with the players. As the third and fourth come, the audience begin the arduous hike through a maze of information.

Where will it lead?

So Much Left Unsaid, Unexplained

I’m making the conscious decision to leave out some specifics, to ensure that if you read this review you can still watch the documentary and be stirred. There’s a lot to it, and some of the endings (or lack thereof) should be unknown going in.

With the exception of one witness, Jessica Hoopsick, who admitted to setting up Brian as the target because of his gullibility, everyone maintained that Brian was knowingly involved. It’s a difficult pill to swallow, because who chooses to meet their end that way? However, the eerie calm in which he strolls into the bank is also suspect. It’s a part of the story that will undoubtedly never find its answer. One reason could be – the death penalty. If the group admitted Brian wasn’t involved, they could still get it. A worthy incentive. Of course, filmmakers Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri figure this out too, and are undeterred. It’s one of the most spellbinding aspects of this story – the unravelling of new information, and the pursuit for the truth.

Co-director Trey Borzillieri’s continued relationship with Marjorie, and their frequent discussions, are some of the most enthralling elements. Much like the scavenger hunt at the beginning of this case, the makers behind this documentary attempt to decipher the clues, but eventually end up short. It does make for at times a downright compulsive watch, that’ll get your heart pounding in anticipation.

In the final gripping episode, it’s down to the wire on what’s going to happen. When it’s at its best, it pushes, keeping the pace of a ticking bomb. At its worst, the drawl is almost enough to put you to sleep, but don’t worry – it quickly finds its footing again. Overall, this documentary series isn’t as smooth or concise as Wild, Wild Country, but it does hold a very interesting hand, which makes it a hard bet to lose.

Conclusion: Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist

It isn’t the glossiest documentary, and there isn’t a significant style or a comfortable flow, but what Evil Genius lacks in pizzazz in makes up for in persistence and unearthing. It’s a story worth uncovering, and with so much still left in the air, it’s one that will most likely wind you up and never fully let you go.

What did you think? Were you captivated? How does it rank against other documentary series on Netflix?

Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist is currently streaming on Netflix.