The Ugly Stepsister (2024) - Film Review

      The Ugly Stepsister, 2025.

      Written and Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt.

      Featuring Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, Flo Fagerli, Isac Calmroth, Malte Gårdinger, Ralph Carlsson, Isac Aspberg, Albin Weidenbladh, Oksana Czerkasyna, Katarzyna Herman, Adam Lundgren, Willy Ramnek Petri, Cecilia Forss, Kyrre Hellum, Richard Forsgren, Agnieszka Żulewska, Philip Lenkowsky, and Staffan Kolhammar.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The film follows Elvira as she competes against her beautiful stepsister in a world where beauty is paramount. To capture the prince's attention, she resorts to extreme strategies amid a fierce contest for physical perfection.

      This twisted and socially aware Norwegian adaptation critiques the harsh standards of female beauty through a body horror retelling of Cinderella. Writer and director Emilie Blichfeldt's feature debut, The Ugly Stepsister, is both grotesque and emotionally impactful. It offers a radical perspective on the tale, humanizing the stepsisters, particularly focusing on Elvira (played by Lea Myren), who is spurred by romantic aspirations and pressured by her cruel mother (Ane Dahl Torp) to alter her body by any means to appear more conventionally attractive to Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth) and qualify for marriage, which would resolve a financial crisis.

      What’s pleasantly surprising is the film's ability to convey this narrative without dismissing Cinderella (and aspects of her character from the classic tale), who is referred to as Agnes and portrayed by Thea Sofie Loch Næss. Each character has her reasons for vying for Prince Julian’s affection. A rivalry develops, but Blichfeldt maintains focus on the bitterness and resentment stemming from family dynamics, particularly a mother who sees her daughter as a pawn for social advancement, along with the men who enforce unattainable beauty standards, whether through a superficial prince or a deranged doctor profiting from painful body alterations that shouldn't be necessary for someone to be deemed a worthy partner. This is vividly captured through close-up photography by Marcel Zyskind that dares viewers not to turn away.

      While the film includes common sayings about inner beauty, The Ugly Stepsister diverges by presenting a grotesque metaphor for the consequences of an obsession with external appearance, reducing individuals to mere objects. Elvira's transformation includes drastic weight loss, which leads her to swallow a tapeworm to consume whatever food she desires. Without revealing too much, the tapeworm represents how this mindset can erode the internal beauty of one's personality. Yet, this shouldn’t place blame on Elvira; her struggles are a result of a distorted form of mental abuse rooted in men’s unrealistic expectations of women.

      Lea Myren delivers a fearless performance that extends beyond physical transformation (which the makeup and prosthetics team also merits praise for, whether through a modified nose or removed braces) to include subtle emotional depth. While in the woods, she unexpectedly encounters Prince Julian (whom she already admires, often reading his poetry while fantasizing about him), only to feel hurt by his derogatory remarks about her unconventional appearance, fueling her misguided determination to win his favor.

      In a similarly poignant scene, Elvira triumphantly joins a dance team, mistakenly believing her achievements were solely due to her progress, only to feel devastated upon discovering her mother used their last remaining funds to pay the dance instructor. These dance preparations lead to a ballroom event where Prince Julian will select a wife, highlighted by stunning and vibrantly expressive costume design from Manon Rasmussen.

      Meanwhile, Agnes is grieving her father's death and is coerced by her stepmother into catering to Elvira's requirements. The film seeks to develop her character as sympathetic rather than solely villainous, though her complexity and that of other characters could benefit from additional layers.

      Despite familiar themes, The Ugly Stepsister displays confidence and ingenuity in its storytelling, skillfully weaving familiar plot points into a visually striking narrative that drives its messages home. Although certain fantasy elements may seem incongruous within this darker and more realistic retelling, the film's vision and performances are mesmerizing, unsettling, and captivating.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He also serves as the Reviews Editor for Flickering Myth. Check here for new reviews and follow him on BlueSky or Letterboxd.