'The Ugly Stepsister' Review: A Great Horror Re-imagining of a Classic Fairy-tale Story
- Becca Johnson
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
By Becca Johnson - April 14, 2025
It’s not only Disney who have been rife with the live-action remakes and re-imaginings, but the horror genre too. The latest offering, The Ugly Stepsister, gives the classic tale of Cinderella an especially grotesque spin. A directorial feature debut from Emilie Kristine Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister is a Norwegian body horror centering on Elvira (Lea Myren), who lives in a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business. Battling her insanely beautiful step-sister for the prince’s hand in marriage, Elvira will go to any lengths to catch his eye - blood, sweat and grit certainly won’t hold her back.
Don’t let the onslaught of cheesy, cash-grab fairy-tale adaptations put you off, as The Ugly Stepsister is the real deal. Grotesque, gory and superbly acted, it’s an unforgettable Substance-esque thrill ride that’ll certainly leave its mark.
We often hear reports of viewers throwing up in cinemas, and The Ugly Stepsister is the latest horror flick to receive this treatment. However, upon watching, it’s easy to see why these rumours may be more fact-based than we think. Using its body horror sparingly but leaving no holds barred when it does, this is a ridiculously gory affair that only leaves a few body parts unaccounted for. Elvira cutting off her toes to fit in the slippers as the poster teases is only the mildest scare this film has to offer, as it dares itself to portray the heinous lengths some would go to for beauty. Diet pills, false lashes and nose jobs don’t even scratch the surface where The Ugly Stepsister is concerned, as it takes all these ideas we are familiar with and gives them the sickest, goriest spin possible. Even seasoned horror fans may need to look away during certain sequences, as it really is uncomfortable. Nailing its body horror, it feels very reminiscent to last years The Substance, tackling the idea of everlasting beauty and how society views women. Somehow, with its fairy-tale, period drama spin, The Ugly Stepsister feels even darker than last years Oscar contender.
Horror aside, this is a very competently made film. The direction on display from newcomer Blichfeldt is astounding, with attention to detail in all areas. Visually it’s a marvel, with stunning costuming, hair and make-up, and a gorgeous setting that brings the time period to life. The slow pace may not be suitable for all viewers, but for those willing to give it a little patience, there’s plenty of pay-off and deep theme exploration to sink your teeth into. It may be an absolute gore-fest, but at its heart is a coming-of-age story exploring the tough beauty standards in place for young girls. We are taught from a young age, whether on purpose or not, that to stand out and receive love we must not only be graceful, elegant and ladylike but look a certain way, with long hair, dainty features and a small waist. The Ugly Stepsister may take trying to look this way to the extreme, but in todays society, it’s not a completely foreign concept. An incredibly attentive and thorough look into beauty, femininity, sibling rivalry and comparing ourselves to others, there’s a lot more at play here than brutal body horror. Taking the existing material and turning into something thought-provoking and important, The Ugly Stepsister is the only fairy-tale reimagining to pay attention to this year.
The icing on the cake is the fantastic central performance from Lea Myren (Kids in Crime). It may be her first leading role in a movie yet she truly excels, putting much weight, emotion and dedication into her performance. The character of Elvira is no easy feat, as the further the run-time progresses, the more physical and intense her performance becomes. With undue pain aplenty, both mentally and physically, the script really does put Elvira through her paces, and Myren effortlessly portrays the intensity needed.
It’s not only our lead that’s up to the task, but the whole ensemble - every performer brings something stark and memorable to their role. Largely starring opposite Myren, in the role of the more ‘beautiful’ sister Agnes, is Thea Sofie Loch Naess (So Long, Marianne). She might not quite receive the make-over that Elvira does, but is still given a pretty rough time as she’s forced to the side and expected to live a less glamorous life to let Elvira shine. She may be sitting in the background for a large portion of the run-time, but when she’s front and centre, she has no trouble providing the emotion and anger needed. Isac Calmroth (Evil) and Ane Dahl Torp (The Wave) are also notable.
The Ugly Stepsister may struggle with its pacing at times, with the gory body horror sequences being more spaced out than gore hounds would hope. However, the pay-off these scenes provide, paired with the exploration of the themes at play, make this entirely forgivable. Boasting excellent performances, intriguing costuming and genuinely vomit-inducing horror that goes where you’d never expect it to, The Ugly Stepsister isn’t just a great classic reimagining, but one of the best we have, especially in the horror department.
The Ugly Stepsister releases in US cinemas April 18, UK cinemas April 25 & digital platforms May 9
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