‘The Ugly Stepsister’: Horror Reimagining of ‘Cinderella’ earns Critical Acclaim
LOS ANGELES (Archyde.com) – In a cinematic landscape increasingly dominated by remakes and reinterpretations, fairy tales are no exception. As Disney navigates controversy with its upcoming live-action “Snow White,” a darker trend has emerged: the reimagining of beloved children’s stories through the lens of horror. The latest entry in this burgeoning subgenre,”The Ugly Stepsister,” a body horror take on “Cinderella,” has garnered meaningful critical attention,boasting a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Directed by Norwegian filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt in her feature debut, “The Ugly Stepsister” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Shudder, the streaming service specializing in horror and thrillers, acquired the film for international distribution, releasing it in U.S. theaters on April 18.
The film stars Lea Myren as Elvira, one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, alongside Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Ane Dahl Torp, and Flo Fagerl.
Blichfeldt’s film offers a fresh viewpoint on the classic tale by focusing on Elvira, subjected to extreme and primitive surgeries by her mother, Rebekka (Torp), in a desperate attempt to win the affections of Prince Julian. This distorted pursuit of beauty and acceptance forms the disturbing core of the narrative.Early reviews highlight the film’s unsettling and darkly comedic tone. Andrew Parker of The Gate wrote, “Bleak and blackly comedic, The Ugly Stepsister succeeds at making the viewer squirm in their seat while having a devilishly fun time doing so,” praising its unique blend of dark fairy tale elements with modern feminist commentary and body horror.
Sheila O’Malley of RogerEbert.com noted the film’s extreme nature, stating that “‘Extreme’ is a mild word for Blichfeldt’s approach” in The Ugly Stepsister, The film is too extreme for any message, and too extreme to be a cautionary tale.”
While the Rotten Tomatoes score may fluctuate as more reviews are published, the initial response suggests “The Ugly Stepsister” is resonating with critics for its bold and unsettling take on a familiar story. Currently, no audience score is available, as the film has just been released in theaters.
“The Ugly Stepsister” joins a growing list of horror-infused fairy tale retellings. Recent years have seen “Winnie-the-Pooh,” “Bambi” and “Peter Pan” turned into horror projects.
