**‘The Ugly Stepsister’ Transforms a Timeless Fairytale into a Gruesome, Darkly Beautiful Horror**

“What if *Wicked* and *The Substance* had a gritty offspring?” That was the inquiry I raised in [my review of *The Ugly Stepsister*](https://mashable.com/article/the-ugly-stepsister-review) following its debut at Sundance 2025, where I commended its warped interpretation of a fairytale, brimming with violent beauty rituals and disquieting body horror.

### A Sinister Reinterpretation of Cinderella

Helmed by Emilie Blichfeldt, *The Ugly Stepsister* presents a novel viewpoint on the iconic *Cinderella* tale, seen through the lens of one of her frequently maligned stepsisters. Elvira (Lea Myren) yearns for camaraderie with her graceful new stepsister, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), while secretly nurturing an obsessive affection for the prince, whose poetry inspires her romantic daydreams. When Elvira’s mother offers her a path to captivate royalty at the impending ball, she’s prepared to face anything—including a harsh, anesthesia-free medieval rhinoplasty. And that’s merely the onset of the terrors that await.

### A Brutal Yet Gorgeous Cinematic Journey

As I remarked in my review—now featured in the film’s trailer—”*The Ugly Stepsister* is a twisted and mesmerizing feat, intertwining a classic narrative with incisive modern satire and audacious body horror… In short, it is fiercely brutal yet oddly beautiful.”

Viewers seeking a dark and audacious twist on a cherished fairytale won’t have to wait long—[*The Ugly Stepsister* hits theaters on April 18.](https://mashable.com/feeds/rss/all)