In some more movie release news today, Vertigo Releasing, in association with Shudder and IFC Films, has confirmed the UK and US release date of the stomach-churning Norwegian body-horror The Ugly Stepsister.Â
The film will be hitting US cinemas on 18th April and UK cinemas on 25th April.
Written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, (feature-length directorial debut), The Ugly Stepsister introduces Lea Myren, and also stars Thea Sofie Loch Næss (The Last Kingdom) and Ane Dahl Torp (The Wave).
Classic fairy tales are known to be far more sinister than their more well known animated interpretations, and Emilie Blichfeldt’s The Ugly Stepsister certainly promises to swing the pendulum back towards the grisly. A homage to Charles Perrault’s Cinderella, The Ugly Stepsister is a dark and gruesome adaptation of the classic story where you truly find out exactly how much pain beauty is.
Elvira (Lea Myren) has one all-consuming obsession: to win the affection of her kingdom’s handsome prince and live happily ever after. Yet, she lives in the shadow of her beautiful stepsister, Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss), who seems fated for the happy ending she’s always dreamed of. But, in a kingdom where beauty is prized above all things, Elvira will get what she wants, no matter what…
Since its festival run, the press reaction for The Ugly Stepsister has been overwhelmingly positive, with Autostraddle claiming it to be “one of the best horror films of the decade so far”, Inverse describing it as “…The Substance for Disney adults” and Bloody Disgusting calling it “elegant, stylish, and gnarly”. The film is currently sitting at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes*.
The Ugly Stepsister will be in US cinemas from 18th April and UK Cinemas from 25th April
*Rotten Tomatoes Score correct as of 9th April 2025
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
