Ahead of hitting U.S. theaters next month on April 18 and U.K. theaters on April 25, Emilie Blichfeldt’s puke-inducing body horror The Ugly Stepsister gets a brand new trailer today from IFC Films and Shudder.
Starring Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and Ane Dahl Torp, the Norwegian-language horror was also written by Blichfeldt and is described as “a sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story.”
Heading to Shudder sometime later this year, The Ugly Stepsister follows:
Elvira as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes to become the belle of the ball.
The film is a darkly twisted reimagining of Cinderella, adhering closely to the grimmest versions of the tale. It centers on Elvira's relentless quest for beauty at any cost. Instead of fairy tale silkworms, this story features tapeworms. It includes decomposing bodies, satirical body horror, and a 19th-century surgical transformation. This macabre yet humorous film critiques the beauty industry, which promotes body image as a pathway to desirability, success, and social status. Despite her insecurity, we sympathize with Elvira as she becomes entangled in her greedy mother's extreme beautification scheme, driven by a desire for acceptance and a happily-ever-after.
Incase you doubt The Ugly Stepsister‘s body horror chops, need we remind you that one unlucky attendee to the film's Sundance Premiere lost their lunch in the aisle – which always makes great marketing for a horror movie.
Watch the new trailer for The Ugly Stepsister below via Rotten Tomatoes and check out the film in theaters on April 18. For more on The Ugly Stepsister, grab yourself a copy of the upcoming issue of FANGORIA.
