Original Title
Release Date
Runtime
Country
Language
Status
Director
Writer
Main Cast
Production Company
Distributor
The Ugly Stepsister
(2025)
Body HorrorPsychological Horror
Fairy tales taught us that true beauty comes from within, but The Ugly Stepsister tears that lie apart with a rusted scalpel. Directed by Norwegian newcomer Emilie Blichfeldt in her stunning debut, this film grabs the Cinderella legend by the throat and drags it into a grimy, flesh-torn nightmare. Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, it immediately became one of the most talked-about body horror films of the year. Instead of cheering for the golden-haired maiden, we follow Elvira, the overlooked stepsister who realizes that in a shallow royal kingdom, your face is your only meal ticket. Blichfeldt mixes dark Scandinavian humor with gut-wrenching practical effects that rival recent body horror masterworks like The Substance. It is stylish, nasty, hilarious, and genuinely heartbreaking all at once.
QUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT
Atmosphere
8/10Ending Satisfaction
7/10Gore Level
9/10Jump Scares
4/10Psychological Impact
8/10Scare Level
8/10Tension & Suspense
8/10SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?
Worth Watching?A solid horror experience.
Yes
Watch Alone?Best experienced alone.
Yes
Watch With Parents?Not suitable for younger audiences.
Yes
Beginner Friendly?
The Ugly Stepsister (2025)
MovieBody HorrorPsychological Horror
January 23, 2025
109 Min
R
Norway
Norwegian
Fairy tales taught us that true beauty comes from within, but The Ugly Stepsister tears that lie apart with a rusted scalpel. Directed by Norwegian newcomer Emilie Blichfeldt in her stunning debut, this film grabs the Cinderella legend by the throat and drags it into a grimy, flesh-torn nightmare. Premiering at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival to rave reviews, it immediately became one of the most talked-about body horror films of the year. Instead of cheering for the golden-haired maiden, we follow Elvira, the overlooked stepsister who realizes that in a shallow royal kingdom, your face is your only meal ticket. Blichfeldt mixes dark Scandinavian humor with gut-wrenching practical effects that rival recent body horror masterworks like The Substance. It is stylish, nasty, hilarious, and genuinely heartbreaking all at once.
Watch TrailerWhere to WatchQUICK HORROR SNAPSHOT
Atmosphere
8/10Ending Satisfaction
7/10Gore Level
9/10Jump Scares
4/10Psychological Impact
8/10Scare Level
8/10Tension & Suspense
8/10SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?
Worth Watching?A solid horror experience.
Yes
Watch Alone?Best experienced alone.
Yes
Watch With Parents?Not suitable for younger audiences.
Yes
Beginner Friendly?
Where to watch
Last Updated:
October 23, 2026
Official Trailer
Spoiler Free Review
The Ugly Stepsister works because it treats vanity like a dangerous addiction. Lea Myren gives an electrifying lead performance as Elvira. She manages to be deeply sympathetic, funny, and horrifying as her desire for royal approval turns into self-destruction. Beside her, Ane Dahl Torp shines as the cold, calculating mother who treats her daughters like livestock waiting for market day.
The visual direction is gorgeous and filthy at the same time. Blichfeldt shoots 18th-century Scandinavian manor houses with lush, natural light, contrasting beautiful period costumes with leaking pus, fresh blood, and rotting bandages. The camera does not cut away when needles pierce skin or when blades trim flesh. The sound design is especially wicked, amplifying every crunch, drip, and gasp to make you clench your teeth.
While the movie has plenty of laugh-out-loud satirical moments, the emotional core remains heavy. You never stop rooting for Elvira even as she makes the most catastrophic choices possible. The pacing moves smoothly over its 109-minute runtime, leading to a frantic third act that horror fans will celebrate for years.
What Works
Lea Myren delivers a fearless performance filled with vulnerability, dark comedy, and raw physical agony.
Incredible practical makeup and prosthetic gore that makes every beauty treatment look horribly real.
Sharp, clever writing that takes the original Cinderella story back to its gruesome Brothers Grimm roots.
Outstanding contrast between gorgeous costume design and stomach-turning body horror.
What Doesn't Work
The prince character is intentionally shallow, which leaves his personal scenes feeling a bit one-note.
Some secondary characters outside the main household do not receive enough screen time to fully develop.
Viewers with needle or surgical phobias will find several sequences borderline unwatchable.
FINAL VERDICT:
