Victorian Psycho is a delicious spectacle where Maika Monroe embraces the monster inside. Written by Virginia Feito and based on her book of the same name, it tells the story of Winifred Noty as she arrives at Ensor House to start her new job as a governess. And from the first shot of the movie, you can tell that we’re in for a disturbing tale that very much feels like a monster pretending to be human, but not.
MORE: Did you know Maika Monroe was in a queer fairy tale about resistance? Read our review for 100 Nights of Hero.
Is This Maika Monroe’s Best Performance? Yes.
As someone who loves horror, there is something so satisfying about watching an actress like Monroe absolutely lose herself to a role. Every moment that she was on screen, she gave herself over to Winifred’s passions, fears, and utterly all-consuming hunger born of the monster that she holds inside. That’s why this role will stick with viewers after they watch Victorian Psycho.
Oftentimes I feel like actors are really afraid of twisting themselves to bits when it comes to roles. By that I mean, they’re afraid to make the ugly faces, explore the twisted snarling animalistic bits of ourselves, or even the ecstasy that comes with desires filled. But Monroe isn’t like that. She gave herself so willingly to this role that I found myself so immersed that I didn’t care about the deviously twisted things Winifred was doing. Because I understood her. I saw her.
Because of Monroe’s acting, it was easy to slip into an understanding of Winifred grounded in sympathy without excusing her behavior. Because she is a sympathetic character in a lot of respects. But she’s horrifying as well. And she understands that her monster isn’t another part of her. It is her. Which, a little perspective for the viewer there. Because we all have a little monster inside. And sometimes it’s there to protect us.
Please Write More Women Like This
While watching Victorian Psycho, the number one thing that I kept thinking of was how I desperately need more women like Winifred Notty on my screen. Women who aren’t afraid to take what they want in the quiet moments and the loud ones. Women who say twisted things that break the psyche of people and make them wonder if maybe they’re the ones losing it. And women who revel in the ecstasy of their own darkness to the point where it’s almost romantic.
And I especially want more women like Winifred if they come from the perspective of a woman. Because that’s what I saw from top to bottom with Victorian Psycho. The story wasn’t told from the perspective of a voyeuristic man or to indulge in his pleasures. The entirety of this movie is grounded in Winifred’s tender love for her darkness and how it protects her. It is no one’s story but hers. And anyone that gets in her way is so utterly confused by her disturbing smiles and manic eyes, that they don’t know what hit them until it’s too late.
Keeping all of this in mind, I’m not advocating for monsters made flash destroying everything. I’m advocating for multifaceted stories by women where you can sympathize with a woman like Winifred, understand her hunger, and revel in her destruction. Because we’ve certainly seen men go on twisted little journeys in movies like this. But women aren’t afforded the same roles. We’re expected to act a certain way, even in earth-shattering roles like Monroe’s.
Kudos to the Directing, Cinematography, and Costumes/Set
What we experienced in Victorian Psycho with Monroe through Feito’s writing wouldn’t be possible without the directing by Zachary Wigon, the cinematography by Nico Aguilar, and the costume and set design done on this movie. Because every single piece felt like it was immaculately stitched together to create an atmosphere that was haunting and immersive.
Every shot felt like an additional character to the story. And I even felt at times that the camera work that was being done helped me as a viewer see everything from Winifred’s perspective and understand her world. It was also delightful spooky, dramatic, and unsettling to where it also felt like I was experiencing things not just as Winifred but also as the monster inside.
Then there’s the costume and set design. My biggest problem in 2026 is that studios are trying to cut corners at every single turn. And while they think that we can’t tell, news flash we can. It’s looking cheap out there. We can also tell when costumes or sets look like they’re made with care and love for the craft. That’s what Victorian Psycho had in each scene. And together, they supported Monroe and gave her the perfect runway to bring to life Feito’s work.
Watch the official trailer for Victorian Psycho below:
Victorian Psycho hits theaters September 25, 2026 and it made its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
