Movie theater popcorn buckets have become increasingly strange, but Victorian Psycho may have found a way to make even the most devoted horror fan hesitate before reaching for that buttery handful of salty corn.
Studio-provided promotional images reveal a snack vessel shaped like a Victorian baby, complete with a bonnet and frilly outfit. Its torso has been opened up to hold popcorn, giving moviegoers a particularly gruesome place to dig in.
The marketing photos show the baby being held like a doll while someone eats popcorn from its exposed torso. Another image places it beneath a butter dispenser, while the accompanying artwork shows the macabre little figure resting inside an ornate wooden cradle. Apparently, even a Victorian baby deserves a proper place to sleep.
There is one important catch: nobody has announced whether this thing will actually be available to buy. The studio materials supplied so far include no price, retailer, release date for the bucket, or ordering information. For now, it appears to be a promotional stunt designed to get people talking about the film. Whether the public will get a chance to take one home remains unknown.
The bucket is certainly an unusual way to introduce audiences to Victorian Psycho, which stars Maika Monroe (Longlegs, It Follows) as Winifred Notty. She is an eccentric governess who arrives at the remote Ensor House to care for the Pounds family’s children. Winifred has some rather disturbing tendencies of her own, and members of the household soon begin disappearing.
Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) directs from a screenplay by Virginia Feito, who adapted her own novel. The cast also includes Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho), Ruth Wilson (The Little Stranger), and Jason Isaacs (A Cure for Wellness).
The film has already attracted attention on the festival circuit. Dread Central’s Josh Korngut described it as “a vicious, funny, beautifully made swing” in his Cannes review, while praising Monroe’s performance as a career best. Audiences can get an early look at the movie in its first released clip ahead of its theatrical arrival.
Bleecker Street brings Victorian Psycho to theaters on Friday, November 13. As for the baby popcorn bucket, you’ll have to wait for an actual retail announcement before making room for it on your shelf. Assuming you want that thing anywhere near your popcorn.
