It’s fitting Disney is putting the brakes on those live-action fairy tale remakes just when Norway gives us this disgustingly awesome horror-tinged version of Cinderella. We need less overblown CGI crap fests and more Puke-o-Rama flicks that really put the “Grim” back into Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Especially ones like The Ugly Stepsister, which even made this dyed in the wool gorehound squirm in his seat.
This is an incredible debut for writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt. It’s essentially a retelling of Cinderella through the ugly stepsister’s POV. The movie stops short of doing a modern spin on the story with her being some kind of misunderstood antihero. Instead, she’s just your average gal (who’s not really ugly, just plain) trying to live up to society’s impossible beauty standards. Think a Brothers Grimm version of The Substance, and that gives you an idea of what we’ve got going on here.
Yes, she winds up resenting Cinderella. Yes, she eventually turns Cinderella into a servant girl. However, they begin the film on essentially even ground and are pleasant enough to one another at the start. It’s just that Elvira (Lea Myren) must work that much harder at being pretty and has to want it even more when it comes time for the prince’s ball.
As Elvira, Myren gives an astonishing performance. We are with her every step of the way in her quest for beauty, even if it takes her to some shockingly painful and disgusting detours. I don’t want to spoil some of the best moments of the movie. However, if you are already familiar with the OG version of the story, then you probably already know some of the highlights, which are shown in gloriously gory detail. It also features one of the cringiest eye trauma scenes since A Clockwork Orange. Oh, and this might be the first time in cinema history where a tapeworm gets a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Not only that, but the sex scenes feature some near XXX action.
One thing’s for sure; those Norwegians sure know how to make a goddamned fairy tale movie!
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