Following a puke-inducing premiere at Sundance earlier this year, Emilie Blichfeldt's grisly body horror The Ugly Stepsister will hit theaters nationwide on April 18 via IFC Films and Shudder.
The Norwegian-languageThe Ugly Stepsister stars Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and Ane Dahl Torp, with a script also written by Bickfeldt.
A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, the film follows Elvira (Myren) 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 (Loch Næss) 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.
Look out for The Ugly Stepsister in a theater near you on April 18, and for more on the stomach-churning fairytale, grab yourself a copy of the upcoming issue of FANGORIA.
