Bold New Take On Cinderella
Director Emilie Blichfeldt brings a fresh perspective to the classic fairy tale, combining horror and comedy in a daring film. With its unique blend of genres, The Ugly Stepsister is set to captivate audiences.
Dir: Emilie Blichfeldt
Cast: Lea Myren, Ane Dahl Torp, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, Malte Gårdinger, Ralph Carlsson, Cecilia Forss
109 mins · 2025 · Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden · Cert 18 · Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
IMDb 7.0/10 · Rotten Tomatoes 96% · Metacritic 70/100 · TMDB 7.3/10 · Trakt 72%
Awards: Nominated for 1 Oscar. 6 wins & 24 nominations total
Emilie Blichfeldt, known for her bold and unapologetic storytelling, has made a name for herself with her feature film directorial debut, The Ugly Stepsister. What is the film about? The Ugly Stepsister is a satirical black comedy body horror film that reworks the classic Cinderella story, focusing on one of her stepsisters, Elvira, as she battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, Agnes, in a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business. What kind of film is it? The film is a horror, comedy, drama from Denmark, Norway, Poland, and Sweden, with a runtime of 109 minutes and a certificate of 18, featuring a mix of Norwegian, Polish, and Swedish languages. How was it received? The film has received high scores from various platforms, including IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, TMDB, and Trakt, with a nomination for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Award at the 98th Academy Awards, and has been praised for its masterful application of gore and subversion, with viewers appreciating its unique spin on the classic tale, its strong character motivations, and its thought-provoking social commentary.
The Ugly Stepsister will be screened at the Electric Palace Hastings in Hastings on Saturday, 28 November 2026, as part of Fright Night, hosted by Emily Booth and Kim Taylor-Foster. Tickets are with the button beside the article.
Stills
What viewers say
LovesickDead · 9/10
I loved it. I loved the body horror parts; I loved the cheesy and kitsch parts; I loved the dark comedy and the vibes. I just loved it.
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CRiXiD · 7/10
Interesting, funny, gross and pretty darn clever. The lead actress was fantastic and pulled out all the stops. Very well worth watching.
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horror o rorroh · 10/10
Unique spin on the classic "Cinderella" tale—told primarily from the perspective of one of the ugly stepsisters—that does a great job humanizing the relatively one-dimensional characters from the Brothers Grimm rendition.
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BobDole12
I need more live action versions of Disneyfied fairy tale cartoons to stick closer to the borderline-traumatizing Scandinavian/German originals like this plz
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Xiofire
Feminist message spin on the Cinderella fairy tale mixed with body horror and squeamish gore. Delightfully uncomfortable viewing with nice period-drama set dressing and a lovely synth-soaked soundtrack. Solid themes around societal beauty standards, the pain of conformity and losing yourself in the process, The Ugly Stepsister is a grim dark retelling that's fun to grit your teeth through, even if it's a little heavy handed in its delivery.
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xayaral
it's not a horror movie but the hilarious version of cinderella i ever saw !
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ziggymacarthur · 7/10
A visually stunning film with good directing and wonderfully glossy cinematography. The brutality that the main protagonist suffers made me squirm in my chair. There's a part of me that felt there could have been even more character development of supporting characters.
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papiwarbucks · 8/10
A visceral reflection on beauty standards and a classic story retold in a masterful fashion.
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