20 Incredible Modern Horror Movies That Came Out Of NOWHERE

Few spectators were ready for what The Ugly Stepsister had in store for them.

Beyond being the debut film from Norwegian writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt, it was adapted from the Brothers Grimm’s macabre reimagining of Cinderella – Aschenputtel – which tells the twisted and violent account of two stepsisters maiming themselves to potentially win the prince’s heart.

So, it’s fair to say that many moviegoers were unaware that the satirical body-horror they were about to watch was actually a bold, troubling, and graphic new take on the immensely adored fairy tale.

Indeed, The Ugly Stepsister’s reframing of Agnes/Cinderella as an unlikeable antagonist was unexpectedly daring and refreshing. What’s more, the lengths to which her titular new sibling – protagonist Elviria – goes to outshine her were arresting not only because of their depravity, but also because of its authentic implications about the mental and physical tolls body dysmorphia can have on women.

Blichfeldt truly puts Elviria through the wringer by depicting the psychological anguish and extreme mutilation she suffers to achieve so-called perfection and companionship. For instance, she turns ill after eating a tapeworm to lose weight, has her nose broken and reset, and cuts off her toes to fit her foot into the famous golden slipper.

Without a doubt, The Ugly Stepsister is a criminally underseen endurance test that should be discovered ASAP.