The Ugly Stepsister

 

A twisted Norwegian fairy tale that cuts deeper than any glass slipper.

This European delight takes the classic story of Cinderella and re-imagines it through the eyes of one of the stepsisters and proves that twisted fairy tales can be done, and done very well.

Written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, this marks her feature-length debut, and I’m genuinely excited to see where her dark and stylish career takes her.

Lea Myren is superb as Elvira, the stepsister driven by envy and insecurity. Opposite her is Thea Sofie Loch Næss (La Palma, The Last Kingdom) as Agnes the Cinderella figure, who is beautiful, aloof, and quietly tragic. While both girls are trapped under the same roof, they share the crushing weight of the pursuit of beauty. Agnes was born with it. Elvira is willing to suffer for it through pain, self-mutilation, starvation, and delusion.

The wicked stepmother, Rebekka, is played by the always-compelling Ane Dahl Torp, known for her roles in two of my favourite Scandinavian disaster films, The Wave and The Quake. She is absolutely vile here; controlling, venomous, and perfect for the role.

If you can’t handle subtitles, this one may not be for you it’s in Norwegian. But trust me, it’s worth the read.

With Disney's live-action princess films falling flat more often than not, it's refreshing to see fairy tales go back to their original grim, uncomfortable roots. The Ugly Step Sister delivers especially in its body horror elements. There are some wince-inducing moments as Elvira undertakes "surgery" to meet beauty standards and win the Prince’s attention.

One scene in particular a desperate, bloody attempt to fit into the slipper is a definite standout. That, and yes... the tapeworm. You’ll know it when you see it.

Final Verdict

If you’re craving twisted fairy tales with psychological bite and grotesque flair, The Ugly Step Sister is well worth your time. Emilie Blichfeldt is absolutely a filmmaker to watch.

And if you haven’t seen The Wave or The Quake yet do yourself a favour and add them to your list.

 

 

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