Released earlier in 2025, this new horror movie has created a stir amongst fans of the genre, who are sharing their glowing reviews online.
Amazon Prime’s The Ugly Stepsister is a Norwegian-language satirical dark film that marks the directorial debut of Emilie Blichfeldt in a twisted retelling of the classic fairy tale Cinderella. Elvira competes with her beautiful sister for physical perfection to gain the prince’s attention and takes drastic measures to impress him.
Many reviews have drawn parallels between its themes of women’s beauty standards and the flaws of patriarchy and those explored in the Oscar-winning film The Substance. One Rotten Tomatoes review states: “If The Substance turned it up to 11, The Ugly Stepsister clocks in at a solid 10.
“A retelling of Cinderella told from the perspective of Cinderella’s step-family members, this film comments as well on the awful lengths women will go to to enhance their beauty. Like The Substance, this film was also made by a woman director with a focused, cinematic style that conveys the story and commentary with admirable clarity and brevity.”
Another review claims: “Highly enjoyed the hell out of this and really admired the heartbreaking, twisted, dark take by director Emilie Blichfeldt on the legendary Cinderella story with a different psychological horror perspective from the evil stepsister.”, reports the Mirror US.
The cinematography by Marcel Zyskind is mesmerizing, bringing a suffocating cold atmosphere that will haunt the mind. “
Disturbing scenes depict the young women undergoing a series of agonising plastic surgeries, with one sister going as far as ingesting a tapeworm in a desperate bid to shed pounds. As they spiral out of control, with Elviria becoming malnourished and losing her hair, they must attend a grand ball where their prince awaits.
The film has garnered significant attention for Emilie Blichfeldt’s work, not only as the director but also as the scriptwriter. Having previously worked on smaller projects, this is her first film to gain such traction following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Featuring a lesser-known Norwegian cast, including Lea Myren and Thea Sofie Loch Naess as the rival sisters, The Ugly Stepsister has had a profound impact on viewers. Their performances have been hailed as a “breath of fresh air,” and when paired with a powerful script, it has sparked a much broader conversation.
One viewer commented: “It has poignant body horror to go along with the themes of body dysmorphia and narcissism with a heavy synth score reminiscent of the dark fantasy subgenre of the 1980s.
It ties in elements of the Brothers Grimm fairytale as well as elements of the beloved Disney classic film. Another review mentioned: “This film is a wild ride! A dark, twisted take on the Cinderella story that dives deep into themes of beauty and envy. The body horror elements are intense, and the performances are top-notch. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re into psychological horror with a fairy tale twist, this one’s for you.”
For those eager for a spine-chilling experience, The Ugly Stepsister is ready to stream now on Amazon Prime