REVIEW: The Ugly Stepsister | Horror Comedy Film

Grotesque, gruesome, and unflinching.

Written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister is a bold, body horror reinterpretation of the classic Cinderella fairytale - one that strips away the magic and replaces it with something far more sinister: the brutal cost of beauty and societal acceptance. With sharp psychological undercurrents and disturbingly visceral imagery, this Norwegian period piece takes familiar characters and tropes and twists them into something deeply unsettling and yet, painfully relevant.

What I find most compelling about period dramas is their ability to reflect our present day through the lens of the past - especially when it comes to the expectations placed on women. The Ugly Stepsister leans into this notion with full force. It’s gruesome, unflinching, and at times difficult to watch, but that’s what makes it so effective. This is not your childhood Cinderella. It's a dark, unrelenting dissection of the beauty myth, one that dares to ask: what happens when we pursue perfection at any cost?

In this reimagining, it’s not Cinderella but her stepsister, Elvira (played brilliantly by Lea Myren), who takes centre stage. After her mother (Ane Dahl Torp) marries Agnes’ father, Elvira moves into her new home and quickly becomes obsessed with winning the heart of Prince Julian (Isaac Calmroth), a figure she romanticises through his poetry. But unlike the traditional tale, Elvira’s path to the ball isn’t paved with fairy godmothers or enchanted gowns. Instead, it’s lined with finishing schools, starvation diets, and nightmarish beauty procedures - some self-imposed, others brutally forced upon her.

From tapeworms to toe amputations, Blichfeldt’s version doesn’t hold back. One scene shows a doctor sewing eyelashes into Elvira’s eyelids. Another, horrifyingly reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers’ original tale, involves cutting off her toes to fit into a shoe meant for Agnes. These scenes are stomach-churning, not just in their physicality but in what they represent: the painful, often invisible ways women have been moulded to meet arbitrary standards for centuries.

Elvira’s transformation from a hopeful young woman into a hardened, desperate competitor is tragic and deeply sympathetic. She’s caught between fantasy and reality, driven to become "better" by a mother who believes pain is the price of perfection. We watch as Elvira internalises the idea that beauty equals worth, clinging to this belief even when it harms her physically, mentally, and emotionally.

What makes Elvira such a fascinating protagonist is that she’s both relatable and maddening. We understand why she’s driven to such extremes - we’ve all been fed the same toxic ideals - but it’s still painful to witness her lose herself in the process. Her bitterness, her cruelty toward Agnes, and her willingness to suffer for male validation all come from a place of deep-rooted insecurity and societal pressure. And yet, we can’t look away.

Lea Myren is extraordinary in the role, navigating Elvira’s emotional descent with nuance and raw vulnerability. She captures the innocence of a girl just wanting to be seen and loved, and the subsequent erosion of that innocence under the weight of impossible expectations. Myren brings real complexity to Elvira, allowing us to see the ugliness thrust upon her, both inside and out.

The supporting cast is equally strong, with standout performances from Thea Sofie Loch Naess as Agnes and Ane Dahl Torp as Elvira’s domineering mother. The film’s atmosphere is amplified by rich production design, moody cinematography, and meticulous costume work that perfectly captures the bleak, oppressive world Elvira inhabits. Visually, it’s stunning - even as it repulses.

Blichfeldt’s direction is sharp and fearless, offering a scathing commentary on the beauty industry, not just as it exists today, but as a deeply ingrained societal mechanism spanning centuries. The Ugly Stepsister is a film that forces its audience to reckon with the absurdity of aesthetic ideals and the pain (literal and figurative) they inflict.

By taking the fairytale we all know and showing its dark, guttural underbelly, Blichfeldt doesn't just retell a story, she exposes it. This is a cautionary tale for the modern age, masked in corsets and ballgowns but screaming with relevance.

Yes, it’s grotesque. Yes, someone vomited at its Sundance premiere - and honestly, it makes sense. Because for all its period stylings and fairytale roots, The Ugly Stepsister hits far too close to home.

⭐⭐⭐

THE UGLY STEPSISTER opens in US Cinemas from 18th April and UK Cinemas from 25th April and available to purchase across digital platforms from 9th May.

FILM DETAILS

• Theatrical Release Date: 18th/25th April 2025

• TL;DR: A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes to become the belle of the ball.

• Director: Emilie Blichfeldt

• Cast: Lea Myren, Thea Sophie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp

• Genres: Horror/Comedy

• Run time: 105 mins

• Cert: 18