There's something uniquely thrilling about watching Maika Monroe lose her mind on screen. From her breakout in It Follows to the chilling Longlegs, Monroe has cemented herself as one of horror's most compelling scream queens. Now, with Victorian Psycho, she takes on her most unhinged role yet: a Victorian-era governess who collects severed body parts like souvenirs. Premiering at Cannes 2026, this black-comedy slasher from director Zachary Wigon is a bloody, hilarious, and near-perfect horror experience that dares you to root for the killer.
Based on Virginia Feito's novel and adapted by Feito herself, Victorian Psycho follows Winifred Notty (Monroe) as she arrives at the remote Ensor House in the Yorkshire moors, 1858. Hired by the pompous Mr. and Mrs. Pounds (Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson), Winifred is tasked with educating their two children, Andrew (Jacobi Jupe) and Drusilla (Evie Templeton). But it's immediately clear that Winifred is not your typical governess. Within minutes of unpacking, a severed human ear drops from her luggage. Her reaction? She kicks it under the bed, retrieves it, and eats it. Yes, you read that correctly.
What makes Victorian Psycho more than just a gimmick is its clever narrative structure. Feito divides the film into six chapters, giving it a storybook rhythm that contrasts sharply with the gruesome violence. Monroe's internal monologue serves as a window into Winifred's twisted psyche, revealing a woman who genuinely believes she's the sanest person in the room. The disconnect between her polite, restrained exterior and her savage inner thoughts is both hilarious and deeply unsettling. It's a manic performance that feels tailor-made for Monroe's unique talents.
Director Zachary Wigon, who previously explored dark comedy in Sanctuary, brings a playful visual style to the film. Cinematographer Nico Aguilar, an additional photography DOP on Killers of the Flower Moon, uses tilted, unpredictable camera angles to mirror Winifred's instability. The film opens with the frame deliberately askew as Winifred declares her own sanity—a wink to the audience that we're in for a wild ride. The camera twists and turns throughout, keeping viewers as off-balance as its protagonist.
The period setting is meticulously crafted, from the somber governess attire Monroe wears to Ruth Wilson's stunning Victorian gowns. The moors themselves become a character, with the wild, untamed landscape contrasting the rigid formality of Ensor House. One particularly eerie location—the kennels where the Pounds keep their dogs—serves as the backdrop for a major turning point in the story. It's a testament to the film's attention to detail that even the dogs feel like part of the twisted world.
Monroe is supported by an exceptional ensemble. Ruth Wilson's Mrs. Pounds is a brittle, insecure woman who wields her power over servants with cutting cruelty. Jason Isaacs brings a menacing gravitas to Mr. Pounds, and a key scene between him and Monroe reveals the traumatic roots of Winifred's madness. Thomasin McKenzie appears as Ms. Lamb, a nurse who offers Winifred a rare glimpse of normalcy—but those moments never last. Young Evie Templeton, memorable from Wednesday, holds her own as the quietly observant Drusilla, hinting at a future scream queen in the making.
What truly elevates Victorian Psycho is its refusal to take itself too seriously. The film is drenched in blood and Gothic atmosphere, but it never pretends to be high art. Instead, it leans into its absurdity, delivering anachronistic jokes and gleeful violence that had the Cannes audience laughing and gasping in equal measure. While Winifred is no feminist icon, there's something deeply satisfying about watching a scream queen like Monroe dismantle a house full of snobby elites. It's hard to imagine anyone else in this role—Margaret Qualley was originally cast, but Monroe's unhinged energy is irreplaceable.
For fans of horror that doesn't apologize for its fun, Victorian Psycho is a must-see. It's a masterclass in balancing gore and giggles, and a reminder that sometimes the best horror movies are the ones that make you cheer for the monster. If you're looking for more genre-defining masterpieces, check out our list of 10 beloved movie masterpieces of the last 6 years or dive into 5 psychological thrillers from the 2010s that are true masterpieces. And for more on Monroe's journey, read our coverage of the first trailer for 'Victorian Psycho'.
