# Victorian Psycho Review: Maika Monroe Scares Up a Different Final Girl Zachary Wigon’s dark adaptation turns the classic horror trope on its head. - **Source:** [IndieWire](https://www.indiewire.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/04992989-f15a-416b-9ddb-fadef57b52c9 ## A Subversive Horror Tale Directed by Zachary Wigon, Victorian Psycho adapts Virginia Feito’s novel into a darkly comedic horror film. The story centers on Winifred Notty, a Victorian-era governess who claims to be perfectly sane despite a trail of dead bodies. Maika Monroe stars as the anti-heroine, shifting from typical scream queen roles to a murderous protagonist. ## The Governess’s Dark Mission Winifred arrives at a sprawling Yorkshire estate to teach the children of Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, played by Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson. She struggles to mimic human behavior, often using a rictus grin to mask her inner darkness. Her obsession with the aristocratic family drives her to commit increasingly violent acts. ## Stylized Visual Storytelling Cinematographer Nico Aguilar employs creative techniques, including shooting through keyholes and using a pendulum-like camera movement. The film features playful, grotesque imagery, such as a camera perspective from inside Winifred’s stomach. These visual choices enhance the film’s demented tone, making the gruesome violence feel both elegant and disturbingly funny for audiences. ## The Psycho’s Bloody Path Winifred’s violence is indiscriminate, targeting gardeners, nurses, and even infants throughout the narrative. Editors Dustin Chow and Lance Edmands cut these scenes for maximum impact, ensuring blood flows freely across the screen. Despite the carnage, Winifred remains grimly happy, moving forward with her mission while staring at sleeping victims during the night. ## Adaptation and Narrative Changes Clocking in at 90 minutes, the film makes significant departures from Feito’s original novel. The Christmas massacre subplot is entirely removed, and several colorful supporting characters are omitted. These changes aim to streamline the story, though they occasionally dilute the darkest impulses found in the source material, leading to a different final act. ## The Climax and Character Duality The film’s conclusion shifts toward a battle of wills, which feels somewhat watered down compared to the book. Wigon’s direction implies that Winifred is not fully committed to her evil actions, creating a strange duality in her character. This choice complicates the narrative, leaving some fans of the original novel feeling slightly disappointed. ## Production and Festival History The film originally premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, where it garnered attention for its unique take on the horror genre. Bleecker Street is set to release the movie in theaters on November 13, 2026. It serves as a notable entry in the current landscape of dark, character-driven psychological horror films. ## Final Verdict on Tone Victorian Psycho succeeds as a dark treat, largely due to Monroe’s committed performance and the film’s willingness to embrace its own insanity. While the final act lacks the giddy gore of the preceding scenes, the film remains a bold experiment. It effectively challenges horror conventions by forcing viewers to root for the psycho. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/victorian-psycho-review-maika-monroe-adaptation-1235195211/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._