"Ugly Stepsister: A Cinderella Horror Film Now Streaming"

It's an intriguing trend to transform beloved children's stories into horror films, and "The Ugly Stepsister" stands out with its thought-provoking take on the Cinderella tale. Unlike other movies that merely capitalize on nostalgia, this Norwegian body horror film offers a meaningful commentary on its source material. While the choice of Cinderella as a horror subject might seem more fitting than, say, Winnie the Pooh, "The Ugly Stepsister" still delivers a disturbingly visceral experience. Variety reported a vomiting incident at the film's Sundance premiere, and it currently boasts an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. IGN's critic, Katie Rife, noted, "A strong stomach is non-negotiable... as The Ugly Stepsister takes the concept of suffering for beauty to graphic, nauseating extremes."

If you're curious to test your own limits, you can now watch "The Ugly Stepsister" from the comfort of your home.

How to Watch The Ugly Stepsister Online

### The Ugly Stepsister

You can stream "The Ugly Stepsister" on Shudder, a horror-centric streaming service, starting at $7.50 per month, with a 7-day free trial available. Shudder is also included in AMC+ subscriptions. If you're not looking to add another subscription, you can rent or purchase the film on digital platforms like Prime Video.

The film's transition to streaming comes shortly after its U.S. theatrical release and nearly five months following its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. "The Ugly Stepsister" also premiered in Norway a month before reaching North American audiences, marking a notable theatrical run for an independent horror movie.

What’s The Ugly Stepsister About?

"The Ugly Stepsister" (Den stygge stesøsteren in Norwegian) draws its inspiration from the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, not the Disney adaptation. According to IGN, "The Ugly Stepsister depicts crude and agonizing cosmetic-surgery procedures that – believe it or not – are not that far off from historical reality." The film's exploration of body horror and beauty standards has drawn comparisons to last year's "The Substance." Here's the official synopsis:

Determined to outshine her beautiful stepsister, Elvira resorts to extreme measures to win the prince's heart in this dark re-imagining of the Cinderella fairy tale.

"The Ugly Stepsister" marks the debut feature film of writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt. The cast includes:

Lea Myren as ElviraThea Sofie Loch Næss as AgnesAne Dahl Torp as Rebekka, the stepmotherFlo Fagerli as AlmaIsac Calmroth as Prince JulianMalte Gårdinger as IsakRalph Carlsson as OttoIsac Aspberg as The FeinschmeckerAlbin Weidenbladh as The OmnivorousOksana Czerkasyna as CookKatarzyna Herman as Madame VanjaAdam Lundgren as Dr. EsthétiqueWilly Ramnek Petri as Frederik von BluckfishCecilia Forss as Sophie von Kronenberg