The Ugly Stepsister (2025) Film Review – When Love and Beauty Standards Turn into Obsession

 

The Ugly Stepsister (Original title: Den stygge stesøsteren) | 2025 | 1h 49m
Genre: Body Horror/Dark Comedy/Satire/Comedy/Drama/Horror | Country: Norway
Director: Emilie Blichfeldt | Writers: Emilie Blichfeldt
Cast: Lea Myren, Ane Dahl Torp, Thea Sofie Loch Næss
IMDB: 7
My Rate: 8/10

It is not jealousy over Agnes’s beauty that makes Elvira obsessed, but her belief in the prince’s love—a love she trusts so deeply that she is willing to hurt herself just to look “beautiful” in front of him.

Warning:

Nudity, sensual scenes, violence, harsh language, and self-harm

 

Synopsis:

Elvira and her younger sister, Alma, feel incredibly happy when they move into a new house with their mother. They are warmly welcomed by their mother’s new husband and his daughter, Agnes. The image of a better life begins to cross their minds. But that happiness collapses overnight when the husband suddenly dies. Hope turns into bitter reality when it is revealed that the man they thought was wealthy actually leaves behind a pile of debt.

An opportunity appears through the announcement that the prince is searching for a bride. For their mother, this is a way out of poverty. For Elvira, it is a chance to chase love. Meanwhile, for Agnes, it could be an escape from the misery caused by her stepmother. Without realizing it, that hope slowly turns into obsession and sparks competition between them.

Feeling that she does not meet common beauty standards, Elvira is willing to do anything to look perfect. She removes her braces, reshapes her nose, gets eyelash implants, and even swallows a tapeworm so she can eat without fear of gaining weight. All of these sacrifices are done for one goal: to become the prince’s bride.

But how far can someone go in hurting themselves just to be loved?

 

Review:

“Love is blind.” This phrase is often heard as if it normalizes every effort made in the name of love. But can it still be called love if it makes someone willing to hurt themselves? That question lies at the core of The Ugly Stepsister, a reinterpretation of Cinderella from a different point of view—not the princess, but the stepsister. A unique and rarely considered approach.

All this time, we have always been shown that the stepfamily is cruel and abusive toward Cinderella. But this film invites us to reconsider: were they truly born evil, or were they shaped by circumstances? Is marrying a prince really the only path to happiness? Is Cinderella really as innocent as she is portrayed? This film does not merely offer a fairy tale, but a reflection on motives, wounds, and choices.

The story is built on a strong foundation of motives. The competition for the prince’s love is not merely about the throne and wealth. Elvira’s feelings of love and admiration for the prince are shown from the beginning through her dialogue and gestures. On the other hand, Agnes’s motive comes from dissatisfaction with her life after her father’s death, while their mother sees marriage as a way out of poverty. Here, the line between good and evil becomes thin—each character acts based on their own hopes and fears.

The most powerful internal conflict is felt through Elvira. Society’s beauty standards make her insecure and slowly obsessed. She is willing to sacrifice her body to look perfect. That obsession is not only physically painful, but also erodes her sanity. The conflicts of the other characters may not be as deep as Elvira’s, but they are enough to keep the tension alive.

The ending is delivered strongly. Unlike typical fairy tales that offer “happily ever after,” this film presents a form of happiness that feels more realistic and imperfect. The character development is clear, so the ‘happiness’ at the end does not feel forced, but rather grows from the journey the characters have gone through.

From a technical standpoint, the film shows admirable dedication. The performances are convincing, supported by makeup that looks strikingly real. Elvira’s physical transformation is clearly visible, from a slightly fuller body to a much thinner one, showing the actress’s dedication in bringing the character to life. This transformation is not just visual, but reinforces the obsessive side the film wants to highlight.

Interestingly, The Ugly Stepsister does not force the use of the classic glass slipper. The choice of ordinary shoes actually makes the story feel more realistic, even though magical elements such as the pumpkin carriage and the fairy godmother are still present as background. This blend of realism and fairy tale gives the film its unique identity.

The cinematography is executed with precision and clearly showcases details. The use of extreme close-ups in various scenes—maggots on a corpse, the nose and eye surgery process, even the disturbing moment when Elvira cuts her foot—intensifies the tension and makes it feel real. This visual approach is not just for shock value, but emphasizes the discomfort the film aims to build. The choice of music and dialogue also feels aligned in each scene, making the atmosphere even more intense.

The film also highlights various topics that may be overlooked in society. One of them is love with all its illusions. Elvira’s feelings for the prince grow from a romantic image after she reads a poem written by him. The film seems to remind us that illusion can be very different from reality, because the prince’s behavior turns out to be far less beautiful and romantic than the words in his poem. This type of love often happens to us without us even realizing it.

Alma becomes the only character who feels the most “sane.” She seems shaped to remind us that a woman’s happiness and life do not always have to depend on a man. Unlike the Mother, Elvira, and Agnes, who see men as a way out of their lives, Alma chooses to focus on herself. This attitude reminds us that loving ourselves is often far more valuable than chasing validation from others.

The weaknesses of this film are not too significant. The story focusing more on Elvira as the main character is understandable, but unfortunately the development of the other characters is not explored deeply. Even though their backgrounds and conflicts have the potential to add greater depth to the overall story.

Some scenes also feel slightly inconsistent. When Agnes’s mother’s spirit says that no one can recognize Agnes at the dance, Elvira is actually able to recognize her clearly. The scene where the prince announces he is searching for the owner of the shoe in the ballroom also feels odd, considering the owner is no longer there. The moment when the prince is so easily captivated by Agnes feels like a fairy-tale cliché that becomes less believable when viewed as an adult.

In terms of its obsession theme, Elvira’s story slightly recalls Japanese Movie, Helter Skelter(2012). Both place beauty at the center of the conflict. The difference is that Elvira chases the prince’s love, while Ririko chases fame. But in the end, both are trapped in the need for validation and recognition. A similar impression is delivered through different approaches.

Overall, The Ugly Stepsister is not merely a dark fairy tale adaptation, but a reflection on love, obsession, and often unrealistic beauty standards. The film invites viewers to question once again the meaning of “happily ever after” and to realize that not every sacrifice made in the name of love deserves to be celebrated.

 

Impressive Scene:

One of the most impressive scenes in The Ugly Stepsister is when Elvira undergoes eyelash implantation at a beauty clinic. She is promised that she will become beautiful and charming, even though the process is painful. Doubt begins to appear when she sees the condition of one of the nurses’ eyes—a look that hints at failure, even the possibility of losing sight in one eye. The promise of beauty feels sharply contrasted with the risks quietly lurking.

At first glance, this scene may seem simple, but its meaning is much broader. Many women are willing to take dangerous risks to meet beauty standards that are constantly whispered to them. Not a few end up facing failure because they trust cheap or unlicensed clinics, and instead of becoming more beautiful, they receive more painful consequences. But do we have the right to judge their choices? It doesn’t feel that way. The desire to look beautiful is often born not merely from arrogance, but from pressure that makes pain feel like a reasonable price to pay.

 

Impressive Dialogue:

“You change your outside to match what you know exists inside. You are brave.”

 

Ending:

Bittersweet Ending

 

Recommendation:

Worth to Watch

(Aluna)