The Reel Review
An eccentric governess with psychotic tendencies in 1858 Victorian England is hired to teach the children of a wealthy family, who soon grow suspicious when members of the household staff start disappearing. Maika Monroe, Ruth Wilson, Jason Isaac and Thomasin McKenzie star in this horror/comedy based on Virginia Feito’s 2025 novel.
This is a movie ideally suited to those who love realistic looking gore, a shockingly good and gleefully twisted performance from Monroe (Longlegs, It Follows) as the unhinged governess and a healthy dose of dark comedy – all set in the seemingly prim and proper Victorian era. Writer/director Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) perfectly threads that narrow gap between shock and laughter while periodically showing the story from the crazed governess’s warped point of view.
As clearly insane as Monroe’s Winifred Notty (so naughty!) is, there is a certain satisfaction in seeing her exact revenge against the awful people around her, each of whom ironically exhibits their own varying psychotic behavior. The ending diverts from the novel but the story’s big twist still results in a fun, entertaining time.
REEL FACTS
• Maika Monroe took over the lead role after Margaret Qualley (The Substance) dropped out prior to filming.
• Maika Monroe watched psychological analysis videos of real-life psychopaths like Ted Bundy to prepare for the role.
• Although set in England, much of Victorian Psycho was filmed in Ireland at Dunsany Castle, northwest of Dublin.
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