Maika Monroe stars as Winifred Notty in Zachary Wigon’s gothic thriller “Victorian Psycho,” releasing in theatres Friday.
The Story
Maika Monroe is stepping into new territory with her gothic thriller “Victorian Psycho,” playing Winifred Notty, a comically chipper governess who quickly becomes a problem for the family she serves.
Directed by Zachary Wigon, the film is written by Virginia Feito and based on Feito’s 2025 novel. Monroe’s character arrives at the Ensor House in the 1850s to work for the Pounds family as governess to two children, Evie Templeton’s and Jacobi Jupe’s characters.
The story leans into the genre expectations around Monroe’s horror work—while also emphasizing her comedic side—showing Winifred’s unsettling behaviour in oddly cheerful ways, including making excuses for a stray ear found under a bed.
In a role that also marks Monroe’s first British accent, the 33-year-old actor spoke about taking the leap into something different at the Cannes Film Festival, where “Victorian Psycho” first premiered earlier this year. She described the part as “very outward,” contrasting it with her usual approach to roles.
Monroe’s character-driven performance is set against a film release timed for Friday in theatres by Bleecker Street. “Victorian Psycho” also features Monroe drawing influence from Jack Nicholson, whom she cited for the way he smiles “through the whole thing” in “The Shining,” and Monroe has also said she’s a fan of Olivia Colman.
When asked about being labelled a “Scream Queen,” Monroe said she can’t be mad at the term, pointing to her work in “It Follows,” “Longlegs,” and “Watcher.” She added that part of the joy in this production came from what she called freedom to present herself differently, describing suppression in the Victorian era and saying she “can find that I need to present a certain way” in the industry.
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