The trend of transforming beloved children's stories into horror movies has been on the rise, and The Ugly Stepsister stands out as a unique and thought-provoking entry in this genre. Drawing inspiration from the classic Cinderella tale, this Norwegian body horror film offers a disturbing yet insightful commentary on beauty standards and the lengths to which one might go to achieve them.
The movie has garnered significant attention, with reports of a viewer vomiting during its Sundance premiere, highlighting its intense and graphic nature. It has received critical acclaim, boasting a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN critic Katie Rife noted, "A strong stomach is non-negotiable... as The Ugly Stepsister takes the concept of suffering for beauty to graphic, nauseating extremes."
If you're curious to test your own limits, you can now watch The Ugly Stepsister from the comfort of your home.
How to Watch The Ugly Stepsister Online
### The Ugly Stepsister
You can stream The Ugly Stepsister on Shudder, a horror-focused streaming service that starts at $7.50 per month and offers a 7-day free trial. Shudder is also included in AMC+ memberships. For those not interested in subscribing, the film is available to rent or buy on digital platforms such as Prime Video.
The film's transition to streaming is swift, coming less than a month 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, indicating a solid theatrical run for an independent horror film.
What's The Ugly Stepsister About?
The Ugly Stepsister (Den stygge stesøsteren in Norwegian) is a dark re-imagining of the Brothers Grimm's Cinderella story. The film delves into the gruesome realities of cosmetic surgery, as noted by IGN, "The Ugly Stepsister depicts crude and agonizing cosmetic-surgery procedures that – believe it or not – are not that far off from historical reality." It has drawn comparisons to last year's The Substance due to its exploration of body horror and societal beauty standards. 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 film features a talented cast, including:
- 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
