TIFF: 'Evil Genius' Re-enacts Twisted Heist

At the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, David Harbour and Patricia Arquette star in Courteney Cox's directorial feature, "Evil Genius." The film delves into one of history's most convoluted criminal schemes.

Inspired by a Netflix docuseries, Cox sought to understand the motivations behind a bizarre plot. The story involves Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong (Arquette) and assassin Kenneth Barnes (Harbour) orchestrating a bank robbery via a pizza delivery man. Their aim was to fund a murder-for-hire plot, ultimately seeking a large inheritance.

Arquette described the crime as "truly the stupidest," noting the perpetrators' arrogance left a clear trail. Harbour highlighted the dark, comedic absurdity and the macabre romance between the two leads.

Cox focused on balancing the grim reality with the story's inherent dark humor. She aimed to explore the characters' mentalities without audience over-attachment, emphasizing that the film doesn't offer redemption but finds humor in life's messiness, without glorifying the despicable acts.