It's become a trend to transform classic fairy tales into horror films, often leveraging the nostalgia associated with beloved childhood stories. However, The Ugly Stepsister stands out as a thought-provoking commentary on its source material, Cinderella. This Norwegian body horror film delves deeper into the themes of beauty and suffering, contrasting sharply with more typical shock horror adaptations, such as those of Winnie the Pooh.
The film has garnered attention for its graphic content, with Variety reporting a vomiting incident at its Sundance premiere. It boasts an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with IGN critic Katie Rife noting, "A strong stomach is non-negotiable... as The Ugly Stepsister takes the concept of suffering for beauty to graphic, nauseating extremes."
If you're curious about testing your own limits, you can now watch The Ugly Stepsister from the comfort of your home.
### The Ugly Stepsister
You can stream The Ugly Stepsister on Shudder, a horror-centric streaming platform that starts at $7.50 per month and offers a 7-day free trial. Shudder is also included in AMC+ subscriptions. Alternatively, if you're not keen on another subscription, you can rent or purchase the film from digital marketplaces like Prime Video.
The movie's streaming release follows closely on the heels of its U.S. theatrical debut, which occurred less than a month ago. It premiered initially at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and was released in Norway a month before reaching North American audiences. For an indie horror film, The Ugly Stepsister enjoyed a notable theatrical run.
The Ugly Stepsister (known as Den stygge stesøsteren in Norwegian) draws its inspiration from the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, not the Disney adaptation. According to IGN's review, the film "depicts crude and agonizing cosmetic-surgery procedures that – believe it or not – are not that far off from historical reality." This blend of body horror and commentary on beauty standards echoes the themes explored in last year's The Substance. Here's the official synopsis:
Determined to outshine her beautiful stepsister, Elvira resorts to extreme measures to win the prince's heart in this dark re-imagining of the Cinderella fairy tale.
The Ugly Stepsister marks the feature film debut of writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt. The cast includes:
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