In The Ugly Stepsister, Cinderella’s hideous…ly non-ugly quasi-sister goes to great and gruesome lengths to achieve her preferred appearance (and foot size), physical qualities demanded in a realm where beauty is currency. This is not a Disney film.
Lea Myren turns in a tragically dark performance as Elvira, who subjects herself to one disturbing act of cruelty after the next–some physical, some psychological. This body horror-drama takedown of body dysmorphia progresses quickly, operating at a fast clip as writer/director Emelie Blichfeldt revels with the threat of anticipated sadism and brutality. The Ugly Stepsister is a movie you watch because you hear the final 20 minutes are hard to stomach.
And that’s really what this thing is. It’s well-written, well-acted, and well-made, but honestly I’ve struggled writing this review–it’s taken my two days to crank this bad boy out–because there just isn’t that much to say about it. The Ugly Stepsister is by no means ugly–it’s pretty decent, actually–but is there anything must-see here to recommend? Not really.
Even two days removed parts of this movie prove fleeting from memory, wistful bits of entertainment lost to the wind. The ending hews closer to memorability, but if you even slightly know the tale of Cinderella–not the Disney version–you’re a foot ahead in the game. If you’re into shock-and-awe bloodletting, and if you’re reading this review you probably are, there’s enough here to like–just not enough to love.
Though it’s a clever spin on Cinderella and features a devilish performance by Lea Myren, The Ugly Stepsister works well in the moment but fails to leave a lasting impression. That is, unless you have a foot fetish.
Review by Erik Samdahl.