Gruesome Gazette

The Ugly Stepsister(Review)

During a year where we’ve had an explosion of beloved children’s IP-exploitation films, I naturally rolled my eyes when I heard there was a horror adaptation of ‘Cinderella’ heading our way. This one seemed different though.. it was getting high acclaim out of film festivals, a lot of good buzz in reviews, and even an acquirement from Shudder & IFC Films. When I saw it dropped onto Shudder only a few weeks ago, I decided to give it a go and see how it went. Spoiler alert: I was not prepared.

‘The Ugly Stepsister’ tells the story of Elvira, an ugly-duckling who moves with her mother and sister into their new home – a castle on a gorgeous strip of land. It is their mother’s wedding today, and the man she has married is very old with a lovely daughter about Elvira’s age. But when tragedy strikes, the family ends up in a very desperate situation needing money very swiftly. Simultaneously, Elvira has developed major adoration for the local Prince, who is a celebrated poet that publishes his works. When it is announced that the Prince is looking to marry a virgin within the next few months, and is throwing a major ball to find one, Elvira and her mother conspire together to help her win his love and marry into wealth.

But of course, Elvira’s physical beauty can only go so far – especially when her gorgeous stepsister is also hoping to marry the prince.
Over the course of the next following weeks, Elvira goes through a radical transformation. We accompany her through dance classes, “lady” classes, and barbaric surgery procedures, as her old life begins to crumble. And she obsessively prepares herself for the grand ball at the castle.

This movie is practically an anomaly. It is a foreign film, that is an international co-production between Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Denmark. While never explicitly telling us when or where this takes place, it feels ancient and familiar all at once. Everything from the costumes to the sets are top-notch with their details and authenticity. The actors are all flawless in their roles and give a lot of depth to a story that focuses on very few people. Oh, and the music? It fucks – hard.

Not only is it extremely impressive just to see and hear, but the story itself is loaded with body horror, dark humor, and all the classic beats you would expect to see in a dark adaptation of the “Cinderella” fairy tale. It goes to some very dark places, forces us to watch the nauseating sequences along the way, and ends in a place that is equally as jaw-dropping as it is ballsy. Let’s just say even I had no real idea where we were going to end up here.

Go and check this one out for yourselves. But I’d advise you to watch it on an empty stomach – you’ll thank me later.

4.5/5

“The Ugly Stepsister” is currently streaming on Shudder.

‘Til Next Time,
Mike Cleopatra

Scroll to Top