The Ugly Stepsister: Sundance Premiere Shocks with Body Horror & Feminist Themes

The Sundance Film Festival served up a particularly unsettling premiere this year with The Ugly Stepsister, a body horror reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale. The film, directed by Norwegian filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt, didn’t just produce a splash – it reportedly left audiences “in shambles,” according to reports from the festival’s opening night.

Premiering on January 23, 2025, as the opening film of the Midnight section, The Ugly Stepsister isn’t your grandmother’s fairy tale. Senior programmer John Nein prepped the audience with a warning: this wasn’t the Disney version. He described it as a retelling closer in spirit to the darker, more brutal Brothers Grimm original, and “gruesome enough to make the Disney vault spontaneously combust.”

A Familiar Story, Radically Reframed

Blichfeldt’s inspiration came eight years ago when revisiting the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella. She found herself unexpectedly identifying with the often-vilified stepsisters, specifically questioning why these characters were so universally reviled. “It was shocking to me to uncover this character in one of our most beloved fairy tales who has been despised, ridiculed, even mocked — and mocked by me!” Blichfeldt shared during the premiere. “I wanted to be Cinderella… I was hoping I was that girl, and to my shock I realized that I am the ugly stepsister.”

The film centers on Elvira, played by Lea Myren, as she navigates a desperate attempt to secure her family’s financial future by marrying the local prince. With her mother, Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp), pushing her forward, Elvira finds herself overshadowed by her lovely stepsister, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss). The solution, as presented in the film, is… extreme. Reports from the premiere detail scenes involving a “coked-out plastic surgeon” and graphic depictions of Elvira undergoing drastic physical transformations. Audience members were reportedly so disturbed by these scenes that some shielded their faces.

Blichfeldt’s vision isn’t simply about shock value, however. The film is described as a “satirical inflection” on the classic story, exploring themes of manufactured beauty, body image, and societal pressures on women. The director connects her work to a growing trend in feminist body horror, citing films like Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Julia Ducournau’s Titane, and Hanna Bergholm’s Hatching (which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival – as highlighted by Sundance’s own blog) as kindred spirits. “It makes so much sense to me, the feminist body horror wave that we are experiencing,” Blichfeldt explained. “For thousands of years we were men’s property… and our cultural role is still very objectified.”

Lea Myren’s Performance Anchors the Horror

Despite the graphic imagery, the film’s success hinges on the performance of Lea Myren as Elvira. Critics at the premiere noted her ability to portray the character’s vulnerability and desperation even as she descends into increasingly destructive behavior. Myren’s performance, described as “visible from the moon without turning into a caricature,” keeps the audience connected to Elvira’s core desire for acceptance and love, even as she embraces a path of physical alteration. Her scream, apparently, is particularly noteworthy.

The film’s sound design also contributes to the unsettling atmosphere. Beyond a score inspired by genre composers like Goblin (known for their work on 1977’s Suspiria), the film incorporates the sounds of Elvira’s body struggling with extreme weight loss, specifically the constant “gurgling tummy” as a disturbing sonic element.

Sundance Amidst Real-World Concerns

The premiere of The Ugly Stepsister took place against a backdrop of real-world anxieties. As reported by KSL.com, the 2025 Sundance Film Festival opened as wildfires raged in Los Angeles, displacing many industry professionals. Festival director Eugene Hernandez acknowledged the difficult circumstances, emphasizing the resilience of the community and the importance of coming together to celebrate film.

The festival itself showcased nearly 16,000 submissions, with a strong international presence, highlighting films addressing a wide range of global issues. The Ugly Stepsister, while a particularly striking example, represents just one facet of the diverse and thought-provoking programming on offer.

What’s Next for The Ugly Stepsister?

Currently, there’s no confirmed U.S. Distribution deal for The Ugly Stepsister. Following its premiere at Sundance, the film will likely be shopped to distributors looking for unique and provocative horror offerings. The success of similar films like Titane and The Substance suggests a strong market for this type of genre-bending work. The film’s visibility at Sundance, particularly within the Midnight section, will undoubtedly generate interest from potential buyers. Further festival appearances are also a strong possibility, potentially building momentum for a wider release. The film’s Norwegian origins also suggest potential interest from international distributors.

Blichfeldt, with her debut feature, has positioned herself as a voice to watch in the feminist body horror movement. Her willingness to tackle uncomfortable themes and push the boundaries of the genre has already garnered attention, and her future projects will undoubtedly be closely followed.