Thescreescore – Courteney Cox, a name synonymous with both the beloved comedic comfort of ‘Friends’ and the chilling suspense of the ‘Scream’ franchise, has unveiled her latest directorial endeavor, the crime thriller ‘Evil Genius.’ Premiering to a notably lukewarm reception from critics, the film’s initial Rotten Tomatoes score of 60% has sparked discussion, particularly given Cox’s significant return to feature film directing after a twelve-year hiatus.
While audiences predominantly recognize Cox for her iconic portrayal of Monica Geller, her creative pursuits extend beyond acting. With prior directorial credits including the 2014 drama ‘Just Before I Go’ and multiple episodes of ‘Cougar Town,’ ‘Evil Genius’ marks a pivotal moment, showcasing her command behind the camera on a feature-length project once more.
Unveiled at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 12th, ‘Evil Genius’ boasts an ensemble cast featuring esteemed talents such as Patricia Arquette, David Harbour, David Arquette, and Garret Dillahunt. The narrative, penned by Trey Borzillieri, Courtenay Miles, and Barbara Schroeder, delves into the infamous 2003 ‘pizza bomber’ incident, a real-life saga steeped in layers of deception, desperation, and the morally ambiguous space between victim and perpetrator.
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The chilling true account centers on Brian Douglas Wells, a pizza delivery driver from Erie, Pennsylvania, who found himself embroiled in a bank robbery culminating in his death by an explosive collar. Subsequent investigations not only led to arrests and convictions but also uncovered Wells’ own complex involvement in the plot, raising questions about his awareness of the collar’s deadly authenticity.
The film’s exploration of this notorious event has elicited a polarizing response from critics. Josh Bate, writing for thescreescore.com, offered a six-out-of-ten rating, aligning closely with the current Rotten Tomatoes aggregate. Bate lauded Patricia Arquette’s compelling lead performance but pondered the necessity of revisiting a story already comprehensively documented by Netflix’s acclaimed 2018 docuseries, ‘Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist’ (which holds a robust 80% on Rotten Tomatoes). He suggested the film might resonate most profoundly with audiences entirely new to the case.
Conversely, Christopher Llewellyn Reed of Film Festival Today delivered a more scathing critique, targeting the screenplay’s choices and the film’s visual aesthetic, which he bluntly labeled ‘an ugly picture.’ Brian Tallerico, in his RogerEbert.com review, adopted a more measured tone, describing ‘Evil Genius’ as a film that ‘often feels like it’s punching down on a group of oddballs that it never takes the time to really consider as human beings,’ implying a lack of empathetic depth.
However, not all reviews were critical. Michael Rechtshaffen for The Hollywood Reporter provided a distinctly more favorable assessment, commending the strong performances from Patricia Arquette and Harbour, alongside the film’s comedic elements. Rechtshaffen particularly highlighted Cox’s ‘briskly assured feel for the quirky material,’ indicating a confident directorial hand. As ‘Evil Genius’ currently seeks domestic distribution, its ultimate reception by a wider audience remains an intriguing prospect, poised to either solidify its polarizing status or find a more unified consensus.
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