Victorian Psycho Review: A Gothic Horror Ride Led by Maika Monroe’s Performance

Victorian Psycho is a 2026 gothic horror film directed by Zachary Wigon and starring Maika Monroe in the lead role. Based on Virginia Feito’s novel of the same name, the film is set in 1858 and follows an eccentric governess who arrives at a wealthy family's remote manor while hiding her disturbing psychological tendencies. As members of the household staff begin disappearing, her employers start questioning whether their new governess is as innocent as she appears.

Combining period horror, dark comedy, social satire and graphic violence, the film takes viewers inside the mind of a woman who has decided to embrace her darker impulses. Maika Monroe delivers an energetic and unsettling performance, but the film's inconsistent humour and excessive stylistic choices make this an uneven horror experience.

Victorian Psycho Movie Details

Victorian Psycho Story Overview

Set in 1858, the story introduces Winifred Notty (Maika Monroe), an eccentric young woman who arrives at Ensor House, a remote gothic manor, to work as a governess. She is hired to educate the children of the wealthy Pounds family, teaching them table manners and their family history.

Winifred initially appears polite and capable, but her behaviour soon reveals a much darker personality. She struggles with violent impulses and has an unsettling inner presence that she calls Fred. Rather than fighting these tendencies, she increasingly embraces the darkness within her.

As Winifred settles into her new surroundings, members of the household staff begin disappearing. The strange incidents make the Pounds family question their decision to employ her. Meanwhile, Winifred develops a connection with Miss Lamb (Thomasin McKenzie), another employee who is unaware of the full extent of her colleague's disturbing nature. The rest of the story explores Winifred's violent impulses, her complicated relationship with the household and the increasingly chaotic events that unfold inside Ensor House.

Victorian Psycho Review: Maika Monroe Shines in an Unrestrained Horror Story

Victorian Psycho begins with an intriguing premise that combines gothic horror with a disturbing examination of class divisions and women's position in Victorian society. Winifred is not presented as a conventional villain. Her experiences in a world controlled by wealthy employers and patriarchal expectations help explain her anger, although the film does not attempt to justify all her violent actions.

Director Zachary Wigon creates an unsettling atmosphere through the isolated manor, unusual sound design and stylised visual choices. The film frequently takes viewers inside Winifred's unpredictable mind, allowing her disturbing thoughts and impulses to shape the experience. The sound design is particularly effective in suggesting the monstrous presence beneath her seemingly ordinary exterior.

However, the storytelling is not always equally effective. The film tries to balance graphic violence, psychological horror and dark comedy, but these elements sometimes clash. Several comic sequences feel exaggerated rather than genuinely funny, while some stylistic choices appear unnecessarily elaborate. The chapter titles and narration also occasionally interrupt the flow of the story.

The central character keeps the narrative interesting, but the plot itself follows a relatively familiar domestic thriller structure. Some revelations are predictable, and the film's attempts to shock viewers through increasingly extreme situations do not always produce the intended impact. A more restrained approach could have made the horror considerably more effective.

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Victorian Psycho Performances

Maika Monroe is the film's biggest strength. Known for her performances in horror films such as It Follows and Longlegs, she gets an opportunity to play a character who creates fear rather than simply reacting to it. As Winifred, Monroe uses expressive facial movements, unsettling physical gestures and sudden changes in behaviour to portray someone whose mind is constantly moving between politeness and violence. Her performance is energetic and unpredictable, giving the character an unusual screen presence. Even when the screenplay becomes excessive, Monroe remains committed to the role and makes Winifred fascinating to watch.

Thomasin McKenzie provides a contrasting performance as Miss Lamb, bringing a more restrained quality to the story. Ruth Wilson and Jason Isaacs are effective as Mrs. Pounds and Mr. Pounds, the wealthy heads of the household. Jacobi Jupe and Evie Templeton also contribute to the family's unsettling dynamics. Nico Aguilar's cinematography complements the period setting, while Ariel Marx's background score and the sound design strengthen the film's eerie atmosphere. The production design also helps recreate the isolated and imposing world of Ensor House.

What Are The Weak Points?

• Uneven Comedy: Several humorous sequences fail to land.
• Excessive Style: Some visual choices feel unnecessarily elaborate.
• Predictable Plot: The central mystery follows familiar patterns.
• Weak Restraint: The film relies too heavily on exaggerated moments.

Is Victorian Psycho Worth Watching?

Watch it if you:

• Enjoy unconventional gothic horror films.
• Appreciate Maika Monroe's performances.
• Like dark humour mixed with graphic violence.
• Prefer period stories with psychological elements.

Skip it if you:

• Expect consistently frightening horror.
• Prefer subtle and restrained storytelling.
• Want a tightly structured mystery.
• Dislike exaggerated comedy and excessive violence.

Final Verdict

Victorian Psycho is an unconventional gothic horror film that gives Maika Monroe an opportunity to explore a character far removed from her familiar scream-queen roles. Her performance as Winifred Notty is energetic, unsettling and easily the film's most memorable element. The period setting, sound design and supporting performances also contribute to its atmosphere.

However, the film struggles to balance its horror, comedy and social commentary. Its exaggerated humour, excessive stylistic choices and predictable narrative developments prevent it from becoming a truly effective horror experience. While Monroe's performance makes it worth considering for fans of unconventional genre cinema, Victorian Psycho is an uneven ride that does not fully deliver on its promising premise.

Rating: 3/5

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