The year is 1858 and the director is Zachary Wigon. For some delightful, psychological laughs, he brings us Victorian Psycho. This film is a crowd pleaser at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival. Maika Monroe will twist audiences’ minds with her performance. I found myself laughing and wishing it wouldn’t end. Victorian Psycho is one-of-a-kind.

Monroe plays Winifred Notty. She is hired as a governess for a wealthy family and reports to Mr. and Mrs. Pounds (Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson). Winifred does what she can to please the family, but possesses evil elements within herself. From sarcastic remarks to rude innuendos, Monroe is the master of inappropriate behavior throughout the film. There are moments when she acts out of jealousy and others when her actions are based on hatred. The wealth of the family is sickening, yet deep-down the real monster is Winifred Notty.

Zachary Wigon goes down a notch after his direction of Sanctuary. While I adore Sanctuary, I felt that Wigon expanded the overwhelming scenes into a new era that made the film more of a period piece. Victorian Psycho is festival material because of its class dynamics. The theme of envy fuels the suspense in Victorian Psycho. 

The film is not easy to explain, but the behaviors make the clock start ticking with rage. Victorian Psycho has been steady on the film festival circuit throughout the year. It has earned praise at the Cannes Film Festival, The Melbourne International Film Festival (Miff), Beyond Fest, Fantastic Fest, and is even slated to be the opener of Popcorn Frights’ Wicked Weekend in November. The mind-twisting grandeur is in trick or treat mode throughout the year. Zachary Wigon’s round of terror will make heads roll. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.