The trend of transforming beloved Disney tales into horror movies has taken a new twist with "The Ugly Stepsister," a Norwegian body horror film inspired by the Cinderella story. Unlike many movies in this genre that exploit nostalgia for cheap thrills, "The Ugly Stepsister" offers a poignant critique of its source material, delving deep into themes of beauty and suffering.
The film has garnered attention not only for its thematic depth but also for its visceral impact. At its Sundance premiere, Variety reported an incident where a viewer was sickened by the movie's graphic content. Critics have echoed this sentiment, with Katie Rife from IGN noting, "A strong stomach is non-negotiable... as The Ugly Stepsister takes the concept of suffering for beauty to graphic, nauseating extremes." The movie has received a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating strong critical acclaim.
For those curious to test their own limits, "The Ugly Stepsister" is now available for streaming at home.
How to Watch The Ugly Stepsister Online
### The Ugly Stepsister
You can watch "The Ugly Stepsister" on Shudder, a horror-focused streaming service. Shudder offers plans starting at $7.50 per month and includes a 7-day free trial. The service is also available as part of an AMC+ membership. If you prefer not to subscribe, the film is available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Prime Video.
The film's transition to streaming comes shortly after its U.S. theatrical release and nearly five months after its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. It also premiered in Norway a month before reaching North American audiences, marking a successful run for an independent horror film.
What’s The Ugly Stepsister About?
"The Ugly Stepsister" (known as Den stygge stesøsteren in Norwegian) draws its inspiration from the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, rather than the Disney adaptation. The film explores the dark side of beauty standards through graphic depictions of cosmetic surgery, as highlighted by IGN's review: "The Ugly Stepsister depicts crude and agonizing cosmetic-surgery procedures that – believe it or not – are not that far off from historical reality." Comparisons have been drawn to last year's "The Substance" due to its blend of body horror and commentary on beauty ideals. The official synopsis reads:
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 Cast and Characters
"The Ugly Stepsister" marks the feature film debut of writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt. The cast includes:
- Lea Myren as Elvira
- Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Agnes
- Ane Dahl Torp as Rebekka, the stepmother
- Flo Fagerli as Alma
- Isac Calmroth as Prince Julian
- Malte Gårdinger as Isak
- Ralph Carlsson as Otto
- Isac Aspberg as The Feinschmecker
- Albin Weidenbladh as The Omnivorous
- Oksana Czerkasyna as Cook
- Katarzyna Herman as Madame Vanja
- Adam Lundgren as Dr. Esthétique
- Willy Ramnek Petri as Frederik von Bluckfish
- Cecilia Forss as Sophie von Kronenberg
