I remember the Smith case. As she did it with forethought and planning and for a potential reward I would have to classify it as evil. Her psychiatrists attempt to utilize a defense of "dependent personality disorder" was a 'Hail Mary" as she basically had no defense for a premeditated criminal action.

The question as to whether certain people are inherently "evil" is a difficult one. Clearly all of our actions have a basis in our biochemical makeup and that makeup varies from person to person. In that regard I would tend to think that certain people have a biochemistry that inclines them to behavior that we can collectively define as "evil." But what exactly that is, is still beyond the reach of our understanding although we may someday be able to understand it better.

I haven't seen the film but the use of a deus ex machina like the lightning bolt strike is pretty cheap and lazy film making.