Search icon

Movies & TV

31st May 2018

Netflix’s gripping new true crime documentary could be getting a sequel

Paul Moore

Evil Genius sequel

The directors want to explore the case further.

As soon as we heard that Netflix were going to be documenting the case of the pizza bomber in Erie, Pennsylvania, we’ve kept a close eye on Evil Genius and truth be told, it has gripped plenty of people.

In fact, some viewers have even stated that the surreal and horrific documentary is even better than Making A Murderer.

In case you haven’t binge-watched it on Netflix, the plot is almost like something that you would expect to see in a Saw film.

Without giving too much away, it all starts when a man named Brian Wells walks into a bank with a homemade collar bomb that’s locked around his neck.

The pizza delivery man shows a note to the teller, asks for $250,000 and tries to flee. After being apprehended by the police, Brian tells them that he has been forced into committing this crime. After the authorities discover a litany of sinister notes and instructions near the scene of the crime, a perverse scavenger hunt to find the real culprit begins.

As things develop, we’re introduced to the two central characters. The complex, cold and chilling Bill Rothstein and his ex-fiancée Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong.

Rather than simplify things, the documentary then throws two more murders into the investigation including that of Marjorie’s boyfriend, James Roden.

If you haven’t seen it yet, consider this to be your spoiler alert warning but if you’ve finished the documentary, keep reading because the case might be about to continue.

Despite the fact that Evil Genius unfolded over four episodes, there are still so many unanswered questions following the conclusion of the series.

For example, FBI lead agent Jerry Clark has already cast doubt on Jessica’s confession because he thinks it’s ‘not accurate,.’ Clark also suggested that it was Bill Rothstein who was the true mastermind of the bank heist – we never found out who the true culprit was.

In a recent interview with The Wrap, the two directors, Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillier, said that they’re interested in doing a sequel series that would provide a “deep dive” into the characters, and – hopefully – answer those lingering questions.

“We would love to do another deep dive into the characters in here, to reveal new information. We could do a Good Genius, too.”

With regards to any future follow-up, plenty of Evil Genius fans would love to see the focus switch to the heist’s only female co-conspirator, Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong. Despite the fact that she’s a convicted murderer, some viewers felt that the documentary didn’t give enough focus and detail on her story with regards to how she went from promising student to convicted murderer.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge

Topics:

Netflix,TV