Movie of the Day: The Ugly Stepsister (2025) by Emilie Blichfeldt
- dailyentertainment95
- Apr 19
- 7 min read
Link to watch: https://www.amazon.com/Ugly-Stepsister-Emilie-Blichfeldt/dp/B0DJD54CPG/ (US)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29344903/
Detailed Summary: "The Ugly Stepsister" is a body horror comedy film that offers a gruesome and satirical reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale from the perspective of the stepsister, Elvira. Set in a kingdom obsessed with beauty, Elvira is pressured by her mother to undergo extreme and often grotesque measures to transform her appearance in order to compete with her beautiful stepsister, Agnes, for the affection of Prince Julian. The film explores the dark side of beauty ideals, societal pressures on women, and the lengths to which individuals might go to achieve perceived perfection, all with a darkly comedic and often shocking tone.
Plot Summary: In the decadent kingdom of Swedlandia, Elvira lives in the shadow of her stunning stepsister, Agnes. Their mother, Rebekka, is desperate for Elvira to marry the wealthy Prince Julian, especially after their newly acquired wealth proves to be non-existent. To achieve this, Rebekka subjects Elvira to a series of increasingly horrific "beautification" procedures, as the kingdom places supreme value on physical perfection. Elvira, initially awkward and plain, becomes obsessed with winning the Prince's affection, leading to a bloody and bizarre competition against Agnes.
Director's Vision: Emilie Blichfeldt's vision for "The Ugly Stepsister" is to take the familiar Cinderella story and twist it into a body horror satire. Inspired by the darker elements of the Brothers Grimm version and her own struggles with body image, Blichfeldt aims to provoke both empathy and discomfort, encouraging the audience to reflect on their perceptions of beauty and their relationship with it. She uses a distinct visual style, reminiscent of 1970s European cinema, to create a darkly entertaining and stomach-churning horror fairy tale that critiques societal expectations placed on women.
Themes:
Obsession with Beauty: The film satirizes the extreme lengths individuals go to in pursuit of beauty, highlighting the often grotesque and painful processes involved.
Societal Pressure on Women: It explores the immense pressure on women to conform to unattainable beauty standards, particularly in the context of seeking male validation and social status.
Body Image and Self-Worth: Elvira's journey is driven by a deep insecurity about her appearance and a belief that only by becoming beautiful can she achieve happiness and acceptance.
Competition and Jealousy: The rivalry between Elvira and Agnes, fueled by their mother's ambitions and societal expectations, showcases the destructive nature of competition for male attention.
Dark Side of Fairy Tales: The film delves into the more gruesome and unsettling aspects often found in the original versions of fairy tales, presenting a stark contrast to more sanitized adaptations.
Key Success Factors:
Unique Genre Blending: The film's successful combination of body horror with the familiar fairy tale of Cinderella offers a fresh and provocative cinematic experience.
Strong Lead Performance: Lea Myren's portrayal of Elvira has been widely praised for capturing the character's desperation, transformation, and descent into obsession.
Satirical Tone: The film effectively uses dark humor and satire to critique beauty standards and societal pressures.
Visceral and Uncompromising Visuals: The use of body horror elements is bold and memorable, contributing to the film's impact and creating a lasting impression.
Festival Recognition: Premiering at Sundance and Berlinale, and winning the Audience Award at the Overlook Film Festival, brought the film critical attention and generated buzz.
Summary Short: A gruesome and darkly comedic reimagining of Cinderella told from the perspective of the "ugly" stepsister, Elvira, who undergoes horrific transformations to win the prince's love in a kingdom obsessed with beauty.
Awards and Nominations: "The Ugly Stepsister" won the Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Overlook Film Festival in 2025 and was nominated for the Panorama Audience Award for Best Feature Film at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2025.
Critics Reception: The film has received generally favorable reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 98% positive rating based on 45 reviews, with the consensus stating, "Taking a hammer and chisel to a quintessential fairy tale, The Ugly Stepsister's masterful application of gore and subversion are the stuff that nightmares are made of." Metacritic 1 assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Critics have lauded its boldness, satirical edge, and effective use of body horror to explore themes of beauty standards.
Screen Rant: Rated it 8/10, calling it a comedic horror twist that thoroughly explores the effects of the beauty industry.
InSession Film: Described it as a combination of Cinderella and body horror with a sense of trashiness and gore but also thematic depth.
Joblo: Called it the "gruesome, body horror Cinderella reimagining you never knew you wanted," praising Lea Myren's fantastic performance.
Sundance.org: Highlighted the film's inspiration from the Brothers Grimm version and its focus on Elvira's desperate attempts to become beautiful.
Creepy Kingdom: Found it to be a tragically familiar tale, praising Lea Myren's freshness and depth in her portrayal of Elvira.
Overall Summary of Critics Reception: "The Ugly Stepsister" has been largely praised by critics for its originality, its bold and often shocking approach to the Cinderella story, its effective use of body horror to satirize beauty standards, and Lea Myren's compelling performance. It's seen as a thought-provoking and memorable film that offers a dark and twisted take on a classic fairy tale.
Reviews:
Cryptic Rock: Gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a bold and unsettling take on a familiar fairytale that powerfully explores what women sacrifice to meet patriarchal expectations.
Whitlock and Pope: Described it as a feminist body-horror take-down of Disney princess niceties, with bitter lyricism and emotional rot, praising Lea Myren's breakout performance.
IMDb User Review: Rated it 7/10, calling it a bonkers and genius reimagining of Cinderella, a harsh but socially relevant statement, and a brutal upgrade of body horror.
AV Club: Praised its blistering, squirm-inducing satire and the committed new perspective it brings to the source material.
Roger Ebert: While acknowledging its effectiveness in making its points about damaging beauty culture, noted a sense of repetition without progression.
Overall Summary of Reviews: Reviews highlight the film's effectiveness in delivering on its body horror premise while offering a sharp and often disturbing critique of beauty standards. Lea Myren's performance is consistently praised, and the film is noted for its originality and willingness to push boundaries.
Box Office: "The Ugly Stepsister" has grossed $540,074 worldwide according to IMDb.
Production: "The Ugly Stepsister" is an international co-production between Norway, Sweden, Poland, and Denmark. It marks the feature film debut of writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt. The film was inspired by the director's own struggles with body image and the more gruesome aspects of the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella.
Production Companies:
Mer Film
Lava Films
Zentropa
MOTOR
Sales Companies:
Memento Films International - Oversees the world sales of the film.
Distribution Companies:
Scanbox Entertainment - Listed as a distributor.
IFC Films - Handling the release in the United States.
Shudder - Secured the North American, UK, and ANZ streaming rights and will premiere the film later in the year.
Release Date:
Theatrical Release: The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2025. It had a theatrical release in the United States on April 18, 2025, and is scheduled for release in the UK on April 25, 2025.
Why to Recommend This Movie:
For Fans of Body Horror: The film delivers on its gruesome premise with plenty of visceral and shocking moments.
If You Enjoy Darkly Comedic Satire: Its biting social commentary on beauty standards is sharp and often humorous in a twisted way.
For a Unique and Twisted Take on a Classic Fairy Tale: It offers a fresh and disturbing perspective on the story of Cinderella.
For Lea Myren's Standout Performance: Her portrayal of Elvira is compelling and memorable.
Why to Watch Movie:
To See a Bold and Original Vision from a Debut Director: Emilie Blichfeldt makes a strong first impression with this film.
To Engage with a Film That Provokes Thought on Beauty and Self-Worth: Despite its horror elements, it raises important questions about societal pressures.
For a Departure from Traditional Fairy Tale Adaptations: This is definitely not a Disney-style Cinderella story.
If You Appreciate Films That Push Boundaries: It is an uncompromising and often shocking cinematic experience.
What Movie Trend film is following:
Folk Horror/Body Horror Hybrid: The film blends elements of folk horror, with its fairytale setting and unsettling atmosphere, with body horror, focusing on physical transformation and decay in a grotesque manner.
Revisionist Fairy Tales: There's a growing trend of filmmakers taking classic fairy tales and reimagining them with darker, more mature, or subversive themes.
What Big Social Trend is following:
Critique of Unrealistic Beauty Standards: The film taps into the ongoing social conversation about the harmful effects of unrealistic beauty standards promoted by media and society, particularly on women.
Final Verdict: "The Ugly Stepsister" is a bold, gruesome, and darkly funny film that offers a unique and unsettling twist on the Cinderella fairy tale. Its effective use of body horror serves as a powerful tool for satirizing the damaging obsession with beauty and societal pressures on women. While its extreme content may not be for everyone, those who appreciate boundary-pushing horror with a strong thematic core will find it to be a memorable and thought-provoking debut.
Recommendations for Film Makers:
Don't Be Afraid to Take Risks with Genre Blending: Combining seemingly disparate genres like body horror and fairy tale can lead to unique and impactful storytelling.
Use Horror to Explore Social Issues: "The Ugly Stepsister" demonstrates how horror can be an effective माध्यम for critiquing societal norms and pressures.
Focus on Strong Visual Storytelling: Given the body horror elements, impactful visual effects and makeup are crucial for conveying the narrative and thematic elements.
Trust Your Lead Actor: Lea Myren's performance is central to the film's success, highlighting the importance of casting a capable actor to carry a demanding role.
Recommendations for Movie Industry:
Support Original and Daring Voices in Filmmaking: Emilie Blichfeldt's debut showcases the potential of new directors with a distinct vision.
Recognize the Audience for Genre Films with Social Commentary: "The Ugly Stepsister"'s positive critical reception and festival success indicate an appetite for horror films that offer more than just scares.
Consider the Streaming Potential for Niche Horror Films: Shudder's acquisition of the film suggests the value of streaming platforms for reaching audiences interested in specific subgenres like body horror.
Be Open to International Co-productions: The collaboration between multiple European countries in producing this film highlights the potential for diverse creative input and funding opportunities.
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