There is something rather unsettling about a woman who looks perfectly respectable but might secretly be everyone’s worst nightmare. This November, Victorian Psycho invites audiences into a world of polished manners, beautiful interiors and absolutely questionable behaviour.
Let’s be honest, being a governess in Victorian England already sounds exhausting. Long dresses, strict etiquette, endless expectations and children who probably needed more than a stern talking-to. But imagine discovering that the woman responsible for educating your children might actually be the most dangerous person in the house. Suddenly, homeschooling doesn’t sound so appealing.
Enter Winifred Notty.
The Victorian Psycho
Set in 1858, Victorian Psycho follows an eccentric young governess who arrives at the imposing Ensor House to take up a position with an aristocratic family. On paper, everything seems perfectly ordinary. She is there to educate the children, maintain discipline and fulfil the expectations of her employers. However, beneath the carefully constructed appearance of a respectable young woman lies a rather disturbing personality.
Winifred is not exactly what one would call emotionally well-adjusted. In fact, psychopath might be a more appropriate description.
As strange occurrences begin unfolding around the estate and members of the household staff start disappearing, the seemingly perfect Victorian household begins to unravel. And while everyone is busy trying to understand what is happening, perhaps they should start paying a little more attention to the new governess.
Starring Maika Monroe, alongside Thomasin McKenzie, Jason Isaacs and Ruth Wilson, the film brings together a cast capable of making an already unsettling premise even more intriguing.
Directed by Zachary Wigon and written by Virginia Feito, Victorian Psycho plays with the conventions of gothic horror, combining psychological tension with the peculiar absurdity of a society obsessed with appearances.
The Plot
What makes the premise particularly delicious is its relationship with Victorian respectability. This was a world where reputation mattered, appearances were everything and people were expected to keep their peculiarities behind closed doors. Winifred, on the other hand, seems to have decided that society’s rules are more of a suggestion than an instruction.
And perhaps that is where the fun begins.
There is something wonderfully twisted about placing a deeply disturbed character in an environment where everyone is expected to remain composed. The contrast between the elegance of the setting and the darkness of its central character creates an interesting space for psychological horror, satire and uncomfortable humour.
I am particularly intrigued by the idea of a horror film that doesn’t necessarily need a supernatural creature lurking in the shadows. Sometimes the most frightening thing in the room is the person smiling politely across the dinner table.
Victorian Psycho made its world premiere at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, and now South African audiences have an opportunity to experience its peculiar brand of gothic madness.
So, if you enjoy your horror with a little psychological dysfunction, beautifully dressed psychopaths and enough questionable behaviour to make Freud reach for another notebook, this one deserves a place on your watchlist.
Victorian Psycho arrives in South African cinemas on Friday, 13 November 2026.
Because apparently, even in the Victorian era, not everyone who applies for a job comes with good intentions.
