Victorian Psycho

Zachary Wigon's Victorian Psycho, released in 2026, drops viewers into the damp, candlelit world of 1858 Yorkshire. Maika Monroe plays Winifred Notty, a governess whose unsettling composure masks a violent interior. She arrives at Ensor House, the sprawling estate of the aristocratic Pounds family, and quickly unsettles everyone from the children to the servants. The film, adapted by Virginia Feito from her own novel, is a Gothic horror that trades jump scares for slow-burning dread and sharp social commentary.

Monroe, already a genre favorite after It Follows and Longlegs, brings a ferocious energy to Winifred. She's supported by a strong cast including Thomasin McKenzie as the sweet-natured Miss Lamb, Ruth Wilson and Jason Isaacs as the stifling Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, and Evie Templeton and Jacobi Jupe as the hostile children. Wigon, a former film critic, directs with a steady hand, letting the atmosphere of the isolated manor and the tension between characters build naturally. The production, shot in Ireland, uses muted colors and looming tapestries to create a world that feels both historically grounded and vaguely nightmarish.

The story follows Winifred as she navigates the household's rigid hierarchies and casual cruelties. Strange incidents begin to pile up, and staff members start disappearing. The film keeps the audience guessing whether the horror is supernatural or psychological, and whether Winifred is a monster or a product of her environment. It's a character-driven thriller that uses its Victorian setting to explore themes of class, gender, and repressed violence, all while delivering a wicked sense of humor. [edit]

Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House in the winter of 1858, a remote estate on the Yorkshire Moors. She's been hired as governess to the two Pounds children, Drusilla and Andrew, who immediately test her with cruel pranks and open disdain. Winifred remains unfazed, responding with a bluntness that shocks the household. The parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, are distant and preoccupied with their own social standing, while Miss Lamb, the sweet-natured nursemaid, tries to befriend Winifred, unaware of what lies beneath her calm exterior.

As days pass, the household begins to notice strange occurrences. A maid goes missing, then another. Animals are found dead in odd places. The children grow more frightened, but Winifred's behavior only becomes more erratic. She talks to herself, wanders the halls at night, and shows an unsettling interest in the family's history. The other servants start to whisper, but no one can quite pin down what's wrong.

Winifred's past is hinted at through brief, disturbing flashbacks. She remembers a harsh upbringing, a father figure named John Pounds, and a series of traumas that have left her fractured. These glimpses suggest a connection to the family that goes beyond mere employment, but the film keeps the details vague, letting the audience piece together the puzzle.

The tension escalates as Christmas approaches. The Pounds plan a grand gathering, inviting relatives and neighbors to the estate. Winifred, increasingly unhinged, prepares for something terrible. The household is on edge, unsure whether to trust her or fear her. The film builds toward a violent climax, but the specifics of what happens at the Christmas party are held back, leaving the audience to wonder who will survive and what dark secrets will be revealed.[edit]