Courteney Cox brings true-crime tale Evil Genius to Toronto gala
Courteney Cox arrives at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12 with Evil Genius, her new film as a director. It screens as a gala presentation, one of the festival's high-profile showcase slots, according to Variety.
The film dramatises the people and plots behind the 2003 “pizza bomber” tragedy in the United States. That case centred on an alleged plan masterminded by Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong, in which a man was sent to rob a bank outside Erie, Pennsylvania, with a bomb strapped around his neck, according to Variety.
Patricia Arquette stars as the overseer of the mayhem. David Harbour co-stars as a man still caught in her character’s hold after their romantic relationship ends, according to Variety. The pairing puts two well known screen actors at the centre of a strange American crime story.
The project traces back to film-maker Barbara Schroeder’s 2018 docuseries Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist, which explored the same case. “Anyone I’ve shown this film to, says that the story is so unbelievable, it drives you to want to know more,” Cox told Variety. Cox decided to direct after running into Schroeder at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Directing is not new ground for Cox. She previously directed episodes of the sitcom Cougar Town, music videos and the 2014 feature Just Before I Go, according to Variety. She also directed the Lifetime movie TalhotBlond, adapted from Schroeder’s 2009 true-crime documentary of the same name.
Evil Genius has been described as a dark comedy romance, according to Variety. That label signals a mix of crime, humour and a troubled relationship at the heart of the plot. It is listed as a United States production, according to Variety.
TIFF lists the title as Cox’s second feature as a director. The festival also lists a Sept. 18 screening presented with open captions, where dialogue and key sounds appear as text on screen, according to TIFF.
What makes this stand out for festival watchers is the chain behind it. A documentary maker, a chance hotel meeting and a cast known for television drama have led to a gala slot in Toronto.
