Showing at the annual Milwaukee Film Festival this past month and now streaming on Shudder, “The Ugly Stepsister” is a Norwegian body horror movie walking a fragile line between utterly tragic and gut-bustingly funny. This film is the bloody debut of Director Emile Blichfeldt and starring the incredibly talented Lea Myren.
Not shying away from the more horrific original elements of these gruesome fairy tales and instead fully embracing these shockingly cruel turns of fate, the piece is a unique take on the famous story of Cinderella. The story doesn’t traditionally follow the princess and her fantastical rise to royalty, but instead centers on her newfound stepsister and her extreme efforts to live out her fanciful dreams as well.
The narrative changes up and makes the audience reconsider who to root for, demonstrating the constant torment and outright bullying Elvira faces in being considered less beautiful by all around her. Elvira competes in this pivotal race to marry the prince at the cost of her health both on a physically straining and mentally exhausting level.
Providing direct commentary on unrealistic body standards and the tremendous lengths women are forced to undergo to be treated humanely by society at large. Elvira will shift her appearance permanently, more for the sake of moving up socially while dancing among elegant balls and dressing in decadent gowns.
Describing what makes this fantasy picture so perfect can be difficult to place since practically the entire film comes together to make a purely entertaining but also thought-provoking plot that is a true favorite of the year so far.
The set design and costuming are absolutely stunning. It manages to capture a timeless and alluring historical aesthetic that makes one want to sign up for the painful training school to learn ballet and ride horses in this mystifying countryside despite the twisted tragedies and unsightly monstrosities occurring.
The special effects are amazingly gnarly and hideous, with just about every possible body fluid showing up on the screen at least once and in an up-close fashion, causing viewers to curl up and clutch onto the nearest person out of pure disgust multiple times.
In having such a deplorable plot and focusing on a morally questionable protagonist, the importance of Myren as Elvira cannot be understated. She carries with a showstopping performance, making one feel for the main character in each step and completely empathize with her ongoing misery regardless of her reckless actions.
The well-crafted script balances a hefty task of being humorous while poking fun at its ridiculous cast. It makes worthwhile commentary on the toxic state of the plastic surgery industry and the complicated relationship girls have with their bodies, excelling at both.
In truth, those fascinated with the strange and looking for their next watch to be wholeheartedly grossed out have found their next obsession. For anyone who grew up on young adult fairytale retellings as a child and are now looking for something more adult, “The Ugly Stepsister” is a marvelous but weighty inclusion to the ever-evolving genre that should not be overlooked — even if it requires some closed eyes and a trash bag nearby.