In a column for Awards Radar published on Sunday, critic Tyler Treese argues that actress Maika Monroe has become horror’s most underrated star and a secret weapon for modern filmmakers.
Monroe stars in Victorian Psycho, a new horror release that arrived this weekend. The film pairs her with director Osgood Perkins, marking her latest foray into the genre following a decade of steady genre work.
Reviewing the film earlier in the week, Awards Radar reported that Monroe gets to really let loose as her character’s psychological unspooling accelerates. Initially, viewers watch her try to keep the psycho aspect of her personality in check before she goes all in on big choices.
The actress first broke through with the 2014 supernatural thriller It Follows and followed it up with roles in The Guest and Watcher. In 2024, she starred alongside Nicolas Cage in the A24 horror hit Longlegs.
Treese described her performance in Longlegs as one of the most compelling heroines since Clarice Starling, praising how she maintains the fear and human touch of an FBI agent. The review of Longlegs awarded the film four stars, noting that Monroe anchors the terrifying proceedings effectively.
Monroe’s trajectory in the horror genre is set to continue with the upcoming sequel They Follow. Treese writes that the upcoming film should cement her status as one of horror’s premier gems.
Rather than functioning merely as a traditional scream queen, Monroe routinely anchors scary movies from multiple avenues. Her consistent output across a decade makes her a distinct force within fright flicks.
Victorian Psycho debuted in theaters and streaming platforms over the weekend, with reviews appearing at the start of the week.
Monroe stars as a no-nonsense new FBI agent tasked with tracking down a terrifying killer played by Nicolas Cage.
Worth a look