‘Evil Genius’ explores Erie collar bomb bank robbery
It’s not difficult to remember the Erie collar bomb murder/bank robbery of 2003 because it was so bizarre: Pizza delivery driver Brian Wells entered a PNC bank wearing a bomb shackled to his neck, later telling police that mysterious strangers placed the bomb on him and ordered him to conduct the heist.
But beyond the gruesome headlines — the bomb exploded, Wells died — the full story may be lesser known.
Netflix delves into the twisted tale in its latest true crime series, the four-episode “Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist,” which is now streaming. (Fair warning: “Evil Genius” does show graphic images of the collar bomb exploding.)
Written and directed by Barbara Schroeder, the first episode recounts the beginning of the case and the investigation that follows — was Wells an innocent dupe or was he part of the bank robbing conspiracy? — and ends with an intriguing cliffhanger. What initially seems like a tangent becomes material to the Wells case as it introduces a new character, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, whose outbursts bring to mind a more deranged version of Abby Lee Miller from “Dance Moms.”
But Marjorie’s not entirely new: An unseen, unidentified narrator talks about Marjorie at the very start of the first episode, but then pretty much disappears until the end of that first hour.
The narrator, who turns out to be “Evil Genius” producer and codirector Trey Borzillieri, doesn’t come into focus until the end of the second episode. This odd and confusing choice is made more baffling by voice-over narration in episode two that proves the cliches in The Onion’s excellent true crime spoof podcast “A Very Fatal Murder” are 100 percent accurate.
It’s odd that “Evil Genius” waits until halfway through its total running time to fully introduce Mr. Borzillieri as a character. His role
grows in the last two episodes, which is probably one hour more than the story can sustain.
Turns out Mr. Borzillieri began investigating the case on his own the day it began in 2003 and stuck with it for a decade before Ms. Schroeder got involved in 2013. Mr. Borzillieri developed a phone and letter relationship with Ms. DiehlArmstrong and managed to put together a few pieces in the case authorities missed, at least that’s what the filmmakers behind “Evil Genius” want the audience to believe.
Because so much of the film relies on taped phone calls — the image of a rolling cassette tape gets tiresome after watching “Evil Genius” for a while — it would benefit from on-screen subtitles to help understand Ms. Diehl-Armstrong, who rants quickly and not always coherently.
Ever since the exhilarating confession twist at the end of HBO’s “The Jinx,” it’s difficult not to watch true crime docuseries with the hope and expectation of resolution. It also seems like something filmmakers are keen to provide.
In “Evil Genius,” Mr. Borzillieri offers an attempt at an “ah-ha!” moment in the final episode. But the filmmakers’ thesis is not completely convincing. Other evidence presented in “Evil Genius” suggests a less clean cut, more nuanced scenario may be closer to the truth.
Kept/canceled
PBS’s “Masterpiece” will air a fourth season of “Poldark” this fall and already has ordered a fifth season.
Netflix’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” will end with its upcoming fourth season (debuting May 30,) but there’s some talk of a possible follow-up movie.
TBS renewed animated comedy “Final Space” for a second season and Netflix will bring back “Santa Clarita Diet” for a third season.
Starz renewed “Outlander,” returning for its fourth season in November, for seasons five and six.
Syfy canceled “FaceOff” with its final season commencing June 5.
Channel surfing
Season five of “Arrested Development” debuts May 29 on Netflix. … In 2019 TBS will cut “Conan,” airing original episodes Monday through Thursday, from one-hour to a less-structured 30-minute format. … Comcast commemorates AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with free access to 370 hours of content featuring actors and artists of that heritage at Xfinity.com/AsianAmerican. … PBS, in collaboration with CNN, will launch a new late-night public affairs series on public TV stations in July. Christiane Amanpour will host “Amanpour & Company,” an expansion of “Amanpour,” which will continue to air on CNN International. … Actress Karah Donovan, who grew up near Tarentum and graduated from St. Joseph High School in Natrona Heights, will guest star on CBS’s “The Inspectors” (10:30 a.m. Saturday, KDKA-TV).