Victorian Psycho (dir. Zachary Wigon)

By: Adam Freed

If Winifred Notty is in fact the most sane person she has ever known, then apparently Miss Notty didn’t know many people. Director Zachary Wigon (The Heart Machine, Sanctuary) cleaves open a devilishly funny and unforgettably brutal social takedown of the ridiculous gender and social class hypocrisy of the Victorian age in his inspired, yet imperfect, horror comedy Victorian Psycho. 

Anchored by a truly unhinged and mesmerizing performance by Maika Monroe (Longlegs) who imbues “unconventional” governess Winifred Notty with a delightfully unpredictable penchant for brutality and chaos.  The aptly titled Victorian Psycho begins as Notty makes the trek to Ensor House, the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Pounds, a sprawling Downton-esque manor sitting against a considerable British acreage.  As members of the aristocracy, Mr. Pounds (Jason Isaacs) and Mrs. Pounds (Ruth Wilson) represent a naive, yet diminutive, class of wealth completely disconnected from the pressures of the Victorian age.  Once under the employ of the Pounds family, Maika Monroe unleashes the captivating magic behind her disturbed 19th Century governess.  The vacancy that the gifted actress conveys behind the eyes of her tormented character is much akin to staring into the eyes a predatory animal, only to be gifted a cold hard stare of indifference in return.  

Adding to the magnetism of Monroe’s central character is Zachary Wigon’s unique approach to period piece filmmaking.  By flaunting the conventions of more traditionally methodical camera work, Wigon unleashes a multitude of unique angles, perspectives and movements through which the audience can experience the off-kilter experience of his energetic gothic film.  If one were to squint hard enough, the influences of Yorgos Lanthimos may not be difficult to find behind Wigon’s unique artistic point of view. 

Although lighter in plot than one may expect, Victorian Psycho is a well-balanced blend of goofy and grotesque.  The result of this alchemy is an unquestionably, enjoyable, if not inhospitably dark viewing experience, making it exactly the type of low stakes, high energy, spooky season delight that it sets out to be.

Target Score 6.5/10 - Equal parts humorous and harrowing, Zachary Wigon’s disarmingly satiristic Victorian Psycho is far more entertaining than it has any right to be.

Victorian Psycho is included in Movie Archer’s coverage of the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival