The Ugly Stepsister

Elvira is Cinderella’s ugly stepsister. Like Cinderella, she wants to impress the prince at the upcoming ball, and with the help of her manipulative mother, she undergoes a series of procedures to transform her body. Since plastic surgery is in its infancy, these procedures demand real sacrifice. The Ugly Stepsister takes the classic fairy tale and turns it on its head. The film explores the ideal of beauty and the price women pay to conform to social norms, but it also showcases the talent of director Emilie Blichfeldt, who in her debut delivers a body horror film that is shockingly effective. It’s a brilliant and unsettling work deserving of attention.