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| Ane Dahl Torp as REBEKKA; Lea Myren as ELVIRA in THE UGLY STEPSISTER |
THE UGLY STEPSISTER follows a rich tradition of revisionist literature where a character thought of as the bad guy gets a chance to tell their side of the story. But unlike Elphaba in Wicked, the titular ugly stepsister's sufferings manifest as a gruesome and disturbing body horror. Those with squeamish stomachs, be warned. THE UGLY STEPSISTER will make even the heartiest Cronenberg fan sweat.
Our ugly stepsister of interest, Elvira, arrives with her mother, Rebekka, and younger sister, Alma, on the day of the wedding of Rebekka and Otto. Otto keels over dead, leaving Rebekka with a pile of debts and a third daughter to care for, the effortlessly beautiful Agnes. Of course, the mother desperately wants her own daughters to marry wealthy so that she can continue the life to which she's grown accustomed, but Elvira has her own raison d'être. A romantic at heart, she loves words and dreams of marrying the local prince, a published poet. If only Elvira was as beautiful as Agnes. Her mother puts her through a harrowing battery of beauty regimes meant to bring her up to snuff.
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| Ane Dahl Torp as REBEKKA, Flo Fagerli as ALMA in THE UGLY STEPSISTER |
Director and screenwriter Emilie Blichfeldt takes gruesome details featured in the original gruesome Grimm's fairy tale version of Cinderella, Aschenputtel, adds in the horrific ways females feel obligated to remake themselves (THE SUBSTANCE), and tops it all with sumptuous costumes and set pieces. Neither Agnes nor Elvira manifest as good or evil. Instead, the story paints them as equals on parallel journeys – only the road seems to be smoother for Agnes because she fits society's image of pleasing to the eye. But Agnes has lost her father and has her own misfortunes. Elvira only grows to hate Agnes because everything seems easier for her. Elvira must suffer if she wants to be loved.
The makeover Elvira suffers facilitates some of the most brutal body horror ever brought to the screen. In her desperation, she agrees to nose jobs, eyelash enhancements, and amputations aimed to chop, chisel, and crunch her outsides into aesthetic perfection. These scenes often raise the bar with camera angles that put us in the first-person POV of Elvira, with sights and sounds of her flesh being torn apart. Her external shell certainly goes through the wringer, but the tapeworm she ingests at the suggestion of a mentor (a twisted stand-in for a fairy godmother) also wreaks havoc on her insides. Skilled sound designer Marius Brovold ensures viewers don't miss one moment of what's going on in Elvira's digestive tract.
Of course, none of this body horror would have the same impact if not for the astounding acting of Lea Myren, who throws her body and soul into playing Elvira. She endures a gauntlet of ordeals to make this film work. Her screams of pain heighten each circle of hell, as well as her determination that if she only endures one more trial, her happily ever after is just around the corner. Myren must have endured many hours in the makeup chair to create the myriad faces Elvira wears.
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| Lea Myren as ELVIRA in THE UGLY STEPSISTER |
While the entire cast adds to the shock and awe of the film, one understated character adds unexpected depth to the film – Elvira's rational sister, Alma (Flo Fagerli). Alma occupies little screen time, but she models an alternative way of being in her new home. Alma witnesses her sister's devolution, and all the while she herself finds peace and joy in becoming nothing more than who she wants to be. She learns to ride horses, wears pants, and speaks up when she thinks her sister is in trouble. When Elvira reaches her lowest point, it's Alma who is there to pick her up, offering strength instead of judgment. She's the only person who sees the insanity of her society. I like to think that Blichfeldt put Alma as a stand-in for who she was or wishes she could have been as a teenager.
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| Lea Myren as ELVIRA in THE UGLY STEPSISTER |
The look and feel of the picture comes from a unique blend of cinematic inspirations. The frigid Scandinavian setting perfectly compliments the dark and bleak tone throughout the show. Elvira longs to find warmth and love, but she discovers her new home as a cold, unfriendly place. This winter weather is a constant reminder that they must cling to what little they own to keep some semblance of warmth. Wolves that kill and snow that suffocates are right outside the wall.
Gritty, grainy cinematography pays homage to the horror of the 1970s. And while costume designer Manon Rasmussen and set designers Saine Hviid and Klaudia Klimka have a blast creating a lush, sumptuous world made of silks and tapestries, the surgical tool and devices that Elvira must endure inject a steampunk quality to the production design.
Destined to be a cult classic, THE UGLY STEPSISTER is a blessed addition to the twisted fairy tale cinematic universe with its relatable, flawed heroine and ultimately empowering message.
Release info: In theaters April 18, 2025, then to Shudder
Final score: 5 out of 5.
Lindsey Dunn is a film critic with membership in both NC Film Critics and Southeastern Film Critics. She loves all things Cobra Kai, Netflix Dark, indie horror, and any stories about complicated relationships. You can find her at 1ofmystories.com and most social channels @1ofmystories.
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