Virginia Feito’s 'Victorian Psycho' Brings Gothic Horror to the Big Screen

Virginia Feito’s novel, *Victorian Psycho*, offers a dark, genre-bending exploration of revenge and patriarchy set within the confines of a 19th-century estate. The story follows Winifred Notty, a governess for the wealthy Pounds family whose outward charm masks a dangerous, psychopathic agenda. By blending gothic horror with sharp, dark humor, Feito aims to manipulate the reader, utilizing the protagonist's glib nature to create a complex, morally conflicting experience that mirrors the unsettling charisma of classic literary villains.

The transition from page to screen was a collaborative effort between Feito and director Zachary Wigon. After sharing an early draft of the manuscript, Feito found an enthusiastic partner in Wigon, who immediately recognized the cinematic potential of the material. The resulting film adaptation, which features a standout performance by Maika Monroe alongside Ruth Wilson and Jason Isaacs, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is slated for a theatrical release via Bleecker Street on September 25.

This project highlights a growing trend in the industry of authors taking an active role in the adaptation of their own work to preserve the specific tonal balance of their source material. For Feito, the film serves as an extension of her literary vision, successfully translating the "Grand Guignol" violence and psychological depth of the novel into a visual medium. As the film hits theaters, it stands as a testament to the power of subverting traditional gothic tropes to provide a modern, biting critique of power dynamics.