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The Ugly Stepsister
Den stygge stesøsteren
2025 109 min Denmark, Norway, Poland, Sweden 18+
★7.6
Horror, Comedy, Drama
Director: Emilie Blichfeldt
Trailers
Description
In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, Agnes, and she will go to any length to catch the Prince’s eye.
Budget:
$4.25M
US Gross:
$308,555
Worldwide:
$5.33M
Starring
Lea Myren
Actor
Ane Dahl Torp
Actor
Thea Sofie Loch Næss
Actor
Awards
Academy Awards 2026
— Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Key opinion
Den stygge stesøsteren is a gritty, body-horror reimagining of the Cinderella fairy tale that critiques the destructive pursuit of societal beauty standards. While its visceral and uncompromising approach to horror is widely praised as an effective vehicle for social commentary, audience reception is split on the film’s tonal balance and narrative depth.
| Originality | The film utilizes unflinching and visceral body-horror, featuring grotesque surgery and parasite-driven transformations to depict the physical toll of societal pressure. | |
| Acting | Lea Myren delivers a standout performance that grounds the film's extreme aesthetic in a sympathetic and desperate character arc. | |
| Production | The production design and makeup effects are impressively crafted, creating a textured and macabre atmosphere that brings the dark fairy-tale world to life. | |
| Score | Opinions on the soundtrack are divided, with some finding the modern musical choices a bold stylistic contrast, while others argue they break immersion and feel misplaced. | |
| Screenplay | Viewers are split on the narrative success of the film: some appreciate its sharp, cynical take on fairy-tale tropes, while others feel the ending is empty and the story lacks sufficient development. |