The Ugly Stepsister, releasing on July 9, 2025, in France, is a bold and disturbing reinterpretation of the classic Cinderella tale. With a unique blend of body horror, social critique, and fairy tale aesthetics, this international co-production is already being hailed as one of the most provocative and powerful films of the year.
Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt: A Bold New Voice in European Cinema
This feature debut from Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt has generated significant buzz across major international festivals. Blichfeldt, a graduate of the Norwegian Film School, conceived the idea as a short film before expanding it into a full-length feature that premiered at Sundance 2025.
Her work draws inspiration from filmmakers such as David Cronenberg, Julia Ducournau, and Lars von Trier, infusing traditional fairy tale elements with visceral body horror to explore deeper themes like female identity, societal expectations, and the myth of beauty.
Synopsis: A Nightmare Beneath the Gown
Set in an alternate 18th-century European kingdom, the story centers on Elvira, a socially awkward and physically “plain” young woman played by Lea Myren. Following her mother Rebekka’s (Ane Dahl Torp) marriage to a nobleman who dies suddenly, the family faces financial ruin.
To secure a future for them both, Rebekka becomes obsessed with transforming Elvira into the perfect wife for the dashing Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth). What follows is a brutal series of surgeries and manipulations. Elvira undergoes procedures including:
- Bone reshaping
- Surgical eyelash implantation
- Ingesting parasites for weight loss
- Repetitive psychological conditioning
These disturbing acts blur the lines between love, control, and cruelty, painting a dark picture of beauty as violence. As Elvira begins to believe in the illusion of her transformation, she develops a dangerous rivalry with her conventionally beautiful stepsister Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss).
A Star-Studded International Cast
Lea Myren delivers a hauntingly vulnerable performance as Elvira, undergoing a nightmarish transformation both physically and emotionally.
Ane Dahl Torp is chillingly convincing as Rebekka, whose ambition and delusion drive the film’s darkest moments.
The supporting cast includes:
- Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Agnes, the seemingly perfect stepsister.
- Isac Calmroth as Prince Julian, the kingdom’s coveted bachelor.
- Adam Lundgren as Dr. Esthétique, the morally questionable surgeon behind Elvira’s transformation.
Each performance contributes to the film’s unique blend of fantasy and horror, grounding its surrealism in disturbing authenticity.
Themes and Symbolism
The Ugly Stepsister is more than just a horror film. It is a reflection on the following themes:
1. The Tyranny of Beauty
The film critiques the societal obsession with physical perfection, showing the extreme, almost ritualistic measures imposed on women to conform to an ideal.
2. Toxic Motherhood
Rebekka’s actions, while seemingly motivated by love, reflect a toxic dynamic of control disguised as protection and ambition.
3. Subversion of the Cinderella Archetype
Rather than celebrating transformation through virtue, The Ugly Stepsister reclaims the “ugly” character and questions why beauty is so often equated with goodness.
Production and Visual Design
The film’s aesthetics are a standout component. Shot by acclaimed cinematographer Marcel Zyskind, each frame is drenched in gothic textures and shadowy opulence. The production design by Manon Rasmussen reinforces the fairy tale setting while heightening the horror through practical effects and surreal imagery.
The use of prosthetics, body modification effects, and vintage medical equipment is especially unsettling and central to the film’s visual language.
Critical Acclaim and Festival Circuit
Following its world premiere at Sundance 2025, The Ugly Stepsister made its European debut at the Berlin International Film Festival, receiving standing ovations and walkouts alike due to its uncompromising content.
Highlights from Critics:
- The Guardian praised it as “an ingenious and fearless reworking of fairy tale horror.”
The Times called it “a ferociously intelligent film that demolishes traditional ideals of femininity.”
- RogerEbert.com highlighted its psychological depth, saying, “Lea Myren’s performance transforms grotesque horror into tragic beauty.”
International Release Schedule
- World Premiere: January 23, 2025 – Sundance Film Festival
- European Premiere: February 16, 2025 – Berlinale
- Norway: March 7, 2025
- USA: April 18, 2025
- UK & Ireland: April 25, 2025
- France: July 9, 2025
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Final Thoughts: A Modern Horror Masterpiece
The Ugly Stepsister is a harrowing, poetic, and often terrifying exploration of identity, control, and what it means to be “beautiful.” Emilie Blichfeldt’s audacious debut marks a turning point in European horror cinema, where fairy tales no longer end with happily-ever-after—but with a scalpel.
For film lovers seeking cutting-edge cinema, and for horror fans drawn to deeply thematic storytelling, this is a must-watch in 2025.
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