A Longlegs star could save the movie adaptation of a polarizing horror novel

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Published Apr 23, 2026, 2:46 PM EDT

Ever find yourself wondering what Patrick Bateman would be like if he was a governess at a gothic manor house?

Actress Maika Monroe dressed in Victorian clothing

Do you ever find yourself wondering what everyone’s favorite fictional narcissist, Patrick Bateman, would be like if he was actually a young, unstable governess at a Gothic manor house? The result is Virginia Feito’s polarizing horror novel, Victorian Psycho, and it’s headed to the big screen later this year with Scream Queen extraordinaire Maika Monroe (It Follows, Longlegs, The Guest, and Watcher) leading a stellar cast.

A book cover depiction a pretty doll with long brown painted over with yellow paint

Set in 1858, Victorian Psycho tells the story of Winifred Notty, a young governess who arrives at the stately Ensor House at the behest of the Pounds family in order to watch over and tutor their children, Drusilla and Andrew. It’s a role that Winifred dutifully takes on (at least at first) despite her obvious disdain for the British upper class. As time passes, and she learns more about the family and their individual peculiarities, it becomes much harder for Winifred to keep her true nature and violent impulses a secret from the Pounds and the rest of their staff.

The result is a horror novel that is not for the faint of heart. Victorian gothic is relentlessly violent. No one — children, animals, or otherwise — is safe from Winifred’s casual cruelty. Her unreliable narration also makes it difficult for readers to tell what’s real from a grotesquely violent daydream. All the while, she's surrounded by the oblivious, detestable fops of the Victorian upper class. The rampant sociopathic behavior, shocking violence, and deeply unlikable characters alongside with Feito’s dark sense of humor can be quite jarring.

Since its publication in 2025, Victorian Psycho has left Gothic horror fans divided. Over on Goodreads, user Chantel gave the book one star and wrote: “Though every reader will find different subjects & possibilities frightening & though their tolerance for the cruel, violent, truths may vary, a story is not a list of things; a story is a tapestry. There is no such tapestry in this book in fact, there is no story here at all.” User Dez the Bookworm felt quite the opposite, giving the book five stars: “An unapologetically psychotic first person FMC POV, this story was twisted, shocking and utterly addicting. I couldn’t pull myself away from this story!”

With Victorian Psycho heading to theaters in September, Monroe and director Zachary Wigon have the chance to bring Winifred to life — and introduce her to a broad new audience. With Winifred played by a familiar talent, they’ll be able to add more substance to the character, and smoothing out twists that felt shocking just for the sake of it.

Monroe will be joined by Jason Isaacs in the role of Mr. Pounds, Thomasin McKenzie as Miss Lamb, and Jacobi Jupe as Andrew.

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