“The Ugly Stepsister” follows Elvira, who dreams of Prince Julian, and is willing to go to great lengths to conform to the kingdom’s ideals of beauty. It is a twist on the fairy tale Cinderella, seen from her stepsister’s point of view.
The ugly stepsister is a slow burn. It’s also a rewarding experience if you can stick with it. The film tells a familiar story, but explores it in a completely different, grotesque way. Because of this, it’s not like most of the other “public domain” ripoffs you see. It brings its own unique ideas to the table and absolutely goes for it.
Slow Build and Unique Approach
The first two-thirds of the film move fairly slowly, exploring the dynamic between Lea Myren’s Elvira, Thea Sofie Loch Næss’s Agnes and Ane Dahl Torp’s Rebekka. The “horror” elements are mostly missing in the early stages of the movie, but they’re still there to some degree. Just when “The Ugly Stepsister” begins to feel formulaic, it nonchalantly throws a piece of bizarre imagery onscreen to keep you on your toes.
Body Horror and Unsettling Visuals
Body horror takes full stage in the final act, and it does not hold back. “The Ugly Stepsister” goes in multiple directions to gross out the audience. I found myself nearly gagging on numerous occasions, which hardly ever happens to me. The visuals aren’t over-the-top graphic, but they’re just slightly unexpected. This threw me off more than once, which is all to the movie’s credit.
Themes and Overall Impression
The film beautifully explores self-identity and beauty standards. It does this through Elvira’s constant change due to pressure from those around her. While horror movies often struggle to be effective in their messaging, this one certainly hits the mark.
There were moments in “The Ugly Stepsister” when I found myself growing tired. While there is a horrific twist, the story itself is a fairly generic and familiar one. Luckily, the buildup ultimately becomes worth it as “The Ugly Stepsister” draws to a close.
“The Ugly Stepsister” is an effectively gross take on the Cinderella fairy tale. Rather than following a beat-for-beat formula, the film attempts to break new ground. It isn’t always successful in doing so, but I definitely admire the effort.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
