Maika Monroe abandons her scream queen persona in Zachary Wigon's "Victorian Psycho," a darkly comic adaptation of Virginia Feito's novel premiering at Cannes. Monroe, known for her final girl roles in horror films like "It Follows" and "The Guest," takes on a radically different character this time around.
Wigon's film explores what happens when the traditional final girl archetype gets inverted. Monroe's character operates in morally gray territory, blurring the line between victim and perpetrator in ways that challenge audience expectations. The actress trades her usual survival instincts for something far more sinister, creating a protagonist who refuses to fit neatly into horror's familiar boxes.
Feito's source material already contained subversive potential, and Wigon leans into that fully. The adaptation maintains the novel's dark comedic tone while translating it to screen with visual flair befitting a Cannes premiere. Monroe's performance suggests she's ready to expand beyond the scream queen label that defined much of her career in genre cinema.
The timing matters. Monroe built her reputation in an era when horror franchises and elevated genre films gave actresses genuine leading roles. Yet those parts often contained strict narrative constraints. "Victorian Psycho" represents a deliberate pivot toward more complex, ambiguous characters. It's the kind of role that could reshape how industry insiders perceive Monroe's range.
Genre cinema has increasingly embraced morally compromised protagonists. Films like "Promising Young Woman" and "Bottoms" proved audiences will follow characters who defy traditional moral frameworks. Monroe's casting here signals she's willing to follow that trend, abandoning the comfort of audience sympathy for something riskier.
The film's Cannes selection validates both Wigon's vision and Monroe's choice to take on such contrary material. A