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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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The Ugly Stepsister

The Ugly Stepsister is a 2025 Norwegian satirical black comedy body horror film written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt in her feature debut.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Ugly Stepsister is a 2025 Norwegian satirical black comedy body horror film written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt in her feature debut. It reimagines the Cinderella story from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, Elvira, as she tries to win the prince’s attention amid escalating body-horror elements.

Plot

The film follows Elvira, one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, as she becomes obsessed with attracting Prince Julian’s attention. The story uses the fairy tale framework to explore beauty standards and increasingly grotesque physical transformations.

Cast

The main cast features Lea Myren as Elvira, Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Agnes, Ane Dahl Torp as Rebekka, and Flo Fagerli as Alma. Sources also mention Isac Calmroth as Prince Julian.

Release

The Ugly Stepsister premiered in 2025 and opened in limited U.S. theatrical release on April 18, 2025. A streaming release followed on May 9, 2025.

Genre and style

The film is described as a horror-comedy, body-horror, and satirical retelling of Cinderella. Reviews and listings emphasize its grotesque imagery and darkly comic approach.

Key facts

  • The film is a Norwegian feature debut from writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt.
  • It retells the Cinderella story from the viewpoint of one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, Elvira.
  • The film combines satire, comedy, and body horror.
  • The cast includes Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, and Flo Fagerli.
  • It premiered in 2025 and was released theatrically in April 2025.
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Canadian context

The film had international festival and theatrical attention, but no Canada-specific release or distribution details are confirmed in the provided sources.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Ugly Stepsister about?
It is a Cinderella retelling told from the perspective of Elvira, one of the stepsisters, as she tries to win Prince Julian’s attention and undergoes increasingly disturbing transformations.
Who stars in The Ugly Stepsister?
The main cast includes Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, and Flo Fagerli.
When was The Ugly Stepsister released?
It was released in 2025; Rotten Tomatoes lists a limited theatrical release on April 18, 2025, and a streaming release on May 9, 2025.
Is The Ugly Stepsister a horror movie?
Yes. It is described as a body-horror film and a horror-comedy, with IMDb and reviews explicitly classifying it as horror.
Where to watch The Ugly Stepsister?
As of the available sources, it screened in U.S. theatres and later became available for streaming; the specific platform is not identified in the provided sources.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_Stepsister
    Supports: Original title, year, genre, premise, director, and main cast.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29344903/
    Supports: Horror classification and plot premise.
  3. The Film Verdict — https://thefilmverdict.com/the-ugly-stepsister/
    Supports: Plot details, setting, and principal cast.
  4. InSession Film — https://insessionfilm.com/movie-review-berlinale-2025-the-ugly-stepsister/
    Supports: Director, stars, and synopsis.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-ugly-stepsister-horror-movie-review-2025
    Supports: Horror framing and central character focus.
  6. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/movies/the-ugly-stepsister-review.html
    Supports: Theaters-only status at the time of review, Norwegian language, runtime, and cast details.
  7. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_ugly_stepsister
    Supports: Limited theatrical release date and streaming release date; genre classification.