Retellings, where villains take over the plot, are my favorite kind of reimagination. Enough of Cinderella’s perfect foot and the glass slipper, this newly imagined horror fairytale may just make you remember this story in a perplexingly haunting way. The evil stepmother may make life a living hell for the future princess but how hard will the obsessive stepsister go to get what she wants?
1. Unconventional Storytelling
You didn’t just assume that a story centering around a character that has garnered unwarranted hate was going to be conventional? Because the narrative is flipped the movie offers a new view of the fairytale and is fresh and thought-provoking.
The plot is not unidimensional anymore and is rather complex which has more room for unexpected plot twists. The nauseatingly horrifying scenes where she swallows Tapeworms and later pukes them, the abhorrent nose treatments, and the painful foot scene, altogether make it an experience only the super fans of horror would enjoy.
2. The Impressive Character Depth
A villain is a villain because the hero is telling the story. But Elvira is more than just Cinderella’s stepsister. When imagined as a sensitive young girl who is merely misunderstood, her character attains profoundness and sensitivity. At the core of it, she is a young teenager who wants to feel loved and beautiful. This brings in themes of body positivity, making it a feminist piece of fiction.
In Elvira’s case, her innocence is ruined by her mother, who incubates the idea in her brain that she is inferior to Agnes. Making her go through deliriously baffling face treatments, she pits her against another innocent young woman.
3. The Flamboyant Styling
It wasn’t a typical period piece that needed a vogue validation to stand out. But boy how they grappled the one chance they had! Manon Rasmussen, who has been awarded 34 times for her undeniably skillful contributions to films like Melancholia (2011), served as the costume designer. Her sketch of the 19th-century extravagance was nothing short of excellent. Even the hair and makeup could compete with critically acclaimed shows like Bridergerton.
4. The European Talent Shines Bright
Lea Myren stars in the titular role, portraying anger, envy, and feminine rage phenomenally. Her onscreen presence was so strong that the viewers vehemently felt her misery. Through a screen. The Ugly Stepsister is also Emilie Blichfeldt’s directorial debut. That being said, she killed it! It has an international co-production among Norway, Sweden, Poland, and Denmark, bringing out the best of European cinema.
5. The Powerful Message
It is a fact that women in the 19th century who conformed to the societal pressures of seeming untouched and sensual, held onto rough physical treatments to “fix” them. However, watching this film in the 21st century makes one realize how deeply disturbing it was. It captures the shallowness persisting in society as appearances are still giving beautiful women body complexes and insecurities.
2025 was a dream come true for the fans of horror with it overlapping with other genres, reviving older tales, and giving us classic re-imaginings. Although not everything is for everyone, there’s still something for everyone. Let us know which 2025 horror movie was your favorite.
Happy Watching!
