THE UGLY STEPSISTER

Fear Scale :⭐☆☆☆☆

My rating: 6/10

Press Rating: 7,2 / 10 

(Based on IMDb, Letterboxd, and AlloCiné)

Year:2025

Duration:1h45

I’ve always struggled with horror films inspired by fairy tales. Often, they are lazy productions, made solely to capitalize on the name of a well-known protagonist, resulting in some of the worst horror films of the year. Yet, I approached The Ugly Stepsister with much more enthusiasm. Indeed, this film does not rely solely on the famous Disney adaptation of the original tale but offers an original retelling, combined with a critique of the beauty standards of the era.

The film is not particularly horrific, but it is deeply disturbing and dramatic, portraying a time when women were reduced to their appearance. The protagonist, though detestable and selfish in her behavior, touches our hearts throughout her story. The abuse and mockery she endures evoke genuine sympathy. All the characters are petty and vicious toward each other, willing to do anything to escape their misery. Even Agnes (the Cinderella equivalent in this adaptation) is portrayed as selfish and not particularly warm toward her stepsisters.

What I especially appreciated is that all the characters feel realistic. This is a truly credible version of the tale: even the prince is a complete jerk, which makes us sympathize even more with Elvira, who sacrifices herself to attract a man who does not respect her, and with Agnes, who goes from one prison to another by marrying him. Additionally, the film subtly explores the complexity of family and social relationships of the era, highlighting jealousy, manipulation, and societal pressure on women.

I also enjoyed the film’s minimal use of dialogue. There are few lines, but the film is far from boring. The focus is on Elvira, often alone, showing that despite her mother’s pressures, she remains vulnerable and must face the consequences of her choices alone. This silence enhances the feeling of loneliness and monotony in her life, which she is trying to escape.

The film handles its body horror elements in a very credible way. Unlike The Substance, all the scenes are strikingly realistic, making the viewing experience intense (the scene with the solitary worm, in particular, made me feel queasy). Moreover, the cinematography and production design are remarkable: costumes, sets, and visuals reinforce the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the era, making the immersion total.

One possible criticism is the film’s predictability: of course, all her physical transformations are doomed to fail, and she will not end up with the prince. But this does not prevent an engaging viewing experience, keeping the audience wondering how far the protagonist will go.

Honestly, this is a very interesting film to watch, both for its boldness and ideas, and for the performance of the lead actress, who conveys all her emotions and suffering despite minimal dialogue. Some viewers might miss out due to certain slow moments or simply not connect with the film’s pace, but I truly believe this is a horror movie worth seeing, especially in 2025, which has offered some great horror films—particularly for those looking for a movie that can shock them while making them think about social and beauty norms.