Every year at Fantastic Fest, I stumble into a movie I didn’t plan on seeing. This time, I was pleasantly surprised by Victorian Psycho, directed by Zachary Wigon. I don’t usually gravitate toward period pieces. Sometimes the dialogue is inaccessible, especially in a theater without subtitles. Also, the pacing can drag when the plot or the world-building is weighed down with history. On top of that, I’m always a little on edge when stories step back in history. Any character that looks like me is generally not included, or the racism is on full display (I’m talking to you, The Nightingale).
After many jarring experiences, I have learned to choose my period pieces carefully. Victorian Psycho won me over with witty dialogue, sharp comedic beats, a great lead performance, and plenty of blood. The film follows a young governess who takes a position at a gothic manor. Victorian Psycho will be an entertaining watch with a crowd. Let’s dig into the deets.
Winifred Notty
Maika Monroe’s performance as Winifred Notty is dark and playful. From the first moment I saw her face, I was concerned for anyone she was going to interact with. The subtle facial movements, morbid dialogue, and unexpected violence made Winifred Notty unique and disturbing. Wigon mentioned that he thought of the role like an alien pretending to be a human at the talkback after the film; That direction worked very well. Winifred often looked uncomfortable in her own skin (and her role as governess). I could see the “real” her, who I’ll call Big Fred, bubbling under the mask of societal norms. This kept the tension in place, because each social interaction felt like Russian roulette with an unlimited clip that has more bullets than blanks. Just by greeting Winifred, you are pulling the trigger.
The pacing in this period piece kept me glued to my seat, and I think the subgenre helped. A lot of Victorian-era stories that I’ve seen usually fall into three categories: witches, vampires, or ghosts. Every once in a while, I’ll see an old-timey werewolf flick. I have not seen many movies with human killers from that time unless it involved grave robbing or Jack the Ripper. It was refreshing to see Victorian Psycho go in that direction. Additionally, human killers in older eras are frightening because they can easily get away with crimes.
Big Fred
It’s clear that Big Fred had a history before she pulled up to Ensor House, but the only proof was someone who knew a guy. For Big Fred, that’s nothing that the business end of a blade can’t handle. Humans also pose the threat of manipulation, hiding past actions, and holding grudges (Winifred taps into all of these). Plus, the violence starts early! Winifred wastes no time if she feels threatened, and ANYONE can get it (my kind of killer).
Entertaining kills and engaging performances aren’t the only things giving Victorian Psycho an edge. The absurdity of some of the characters’ actions adds fuel to the fire. The rich family at the manor all have distinct personalities (all different types of terrible) that open pathways to WILD situations. Although Winifred is absolutely unhinged, I can understand her violence after dealing with the inhabitants of Ensor House. The absurdity, violence, and performances are draped in beautiful cinematography. The camera work was doing some heavy lifting. The angles and use of shadows demonstrated Winifred’s internal darkness and the fragility of her sanity. Victorian Psycho has a lot to offer horror fans when it drops in theaters this November. It’s worth checking out!
