★★★★ (4 out of 5 stars)
Some true stories are so disturbing and absurd that you wonder how anyone could have invented them. Then you remember that nobody did. Courteney Cox’s Evil Genius is exactly that kind of movie—violent, creepy, fascinating, and surprisingly funny in the darkest possible way.
The film sets its tone almost immediately. Bill says, “I’m going to 7-Eleven. Do you want waffles or whipped cream?” Marjorie reminds him that they are about to cut up a body. That exchange basically triggers the entire movie in the most absurd way. These people are discussing something horrifying as casually as deciding what snacks to buy.
Set in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 2003, the story begins with Bill Rothstein, played by David Harbour, calling the police to report a dead man stored inside a freezer in Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong’s garage. Bill says he did not kill him—he only helped move and hide the body. He kept it in the freezer for six weeks before finally calling the police.
When asked whether he is afraid of Marjorie, Bill admits that he is. Yet he also describes her as charismatic and claims she convinced him to conceal the body. That tells us everything about their bizarre relationship. He is frightened of her, fascinated by her, and somehow still willing to follow her into complete madness.
The film then takes us several months back and shows what happened before the murder. It moves from the planning of the bank heist through the violence, betrayals, and terrible decisions that eventually bring us back to the body in the freezer. Every time you think the story cannot become any stranger, it somehow does.
Marjorie claims that her father took the inheritance left by her mother, money she believes belongs to her. She also says, “I’m bipolar. Lots of geniuses are bipolar.” The line perfectly captures how she sees herself. She does not simply believe she is intelligent. She believes she is exceptional and capable of controlling everyone around her.
Patricia Arquette is unbelievable as Marjorie. She delivers an awards-worthy performance and adds an extra level of creepiness to the character that is honestly mind-blowing. Sometimes it is just a look, a pause, or the frightening calmness in her voice while discussing something horrific.
When you give a creepy role to the right actor who knows exactly what to do with it, magic happens. That is what Arquette does here—she turns the entire part into gold. She never makes Marjorie feel like a cartoon villain. She makes her frighteningly real, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from.
David Harbour is equally convincing as Bill. He captures the fear, guilt, affection, and denial of a man who knows Marjorie is dangerous but cannot seem to remove himself from her orbit. Their relationship is toxic and strange, but Arquette and Harbour make it completely believable.
Despite the seriousness of the crimes, the film is filled with humour. It is not because murder itself is funny. The humour comes from the absurdity of the people, their twisted logic, and their unbelievably bad decisions. Courteney Cox deserves enormous credit for maintaining that difficult balance without making the victims or the violence feel like a joke.
The supporting cast, including Michael Chernus, Garret Dillahunt, Danielle Macdonald, and Thomas Michael Allen, adds even more insanity to this collection of unstable conspirators. With every new person involved, the plan becomes more complicated, dangerous, and ridiculous.
At 94 minutes, Evil Genius moves quickly and never loses its energy. Cox delivers a confident and highly entertaining true-crime film about manipulation, greed, obsession, and a conspiracy so bizarre that it would seem unrealistic if it had not actually happened.
But it is Patricia Arquette who stays with you. Give this role to the wrong actor, and Marjorie could easily become a caricature. Give it to Arquette, and she transforms every disturbing detail into cinematic gold.