The famous fairy tale of Cinderella has been told in many incredibly distinct ways over many centuries, from Disney’s 1950 and 2015 reimaginings to the countless books that have been adapted from the story. But no Cinderella story has been told quite like Emilie Blichfeldt’s Norwegian horror film, The Ugly Stepsister (2025).
The Ugly Stepsister is disgustingly bloody and puke-worthy in a way that is unbelievable to watch unfold on the silver screen. In telling the classic story of Cinderella, the film rivals 2024’s The Substance in both body horror and the thematic elements surrounding women’s beauty standards. Blichfeldt sets herself apart through the film’s lustrous setting and stylistic mix of classical and rip-roaring filmmaking.
Building off of the classic Cinderella fairy tale, the film looks through the lens of Cinderella’s stepsister, Elvira (Lea Myren). Elvira has long dreamed of marrying Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth) and is willing to do whatever it takes to win his favor. Unfortunately, her incredibly beautiful stepsister, Agnes/Cinderella (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), stands in her way of being the best candidate to be the prince’s bride.
What makes Blichfeldt’s approach to Cinderella unique from the get-go isn’t only the hammer-on-head subject matter or incredibly graphic gore, but also making us feel sympathy for Elvira, a stance that isn’t in most other adaptations. Everyone around her judges her looks, and the continuous pressure on her from Agnes’ stepmother Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp) only worsens matters. There are numerous points throughout the film where she and other young girls are ogled at by pathetic men, especially during the ball. Like The Substance, it’s not very subtle thematically, but the film’s goal is brutal gore in line with heavy-handed thematic threading.
These themes are also helped by the incredible first feature performance from Lea Myren, who sells every ounce of wince-worthy pain and agony she goes through without ever missing a beat. In the vast majority of truly great horror films, we should be able to buy into all the bloody carnage, but also the main performer it surrounds, and she delivers that in spades as the centerpiece of it all–A true tour de force in the film’s entirety.
The film’s technical aspects, from its mix of a surprisingly synthy and mellow beat to its use of more classical music fitting the setting, offer a unique blend of elements that makes the film a lot more interesting. The close-up practical effects are top tier for the genre, with multiple moments so realistic you’ll want to shut your eyes and look away from the screen. There’s one gruesome moment in particular involving a foot and how it ties into the famous missing shoe from the classic story that I shamelessly enjoyed.
The mostly slow-burning nature of telling the story was not quite my speed for the way this narrative is told. The pace often made the flow of the narrative seem more repetitive than it is. But luckily, dull moments in the runtime are few and far between. It’s still fun to witness the escalation of Elvira’s chase for perfect beauty in a sometimes humorous manner.
The Ugly Stepsister can be counted as another huge win for the body horror genre, as gross as it is nuanced in its approach to the classic fairy tale. For the truly grim and brutal shape that it takes, it ends up having a relatively sweet note of closure as the film nears its end, effectively intertwining with the film’s message. It’s crystal clear that this first feature film proves that Emilie Blichfeldt has a bright future ahead of her in directing.
Review Courtesy of Joshua Mbonu
Image Credit to IFC Films and Shudder via The Hollywood Reporter