The 2025 Overlook Film Festival’s centerpiece was the Norwegian film, The Ugly Stepsister. This is the feature film debut of writer and director Emilie Blichfeldt, who took inspiration from the darker original tale of Cinderella and told it from the point of view of one of the stepsisters. Elvira is a sweet, naive young woman who has her heart set on marrying the prince. When her beautiful stepsister becomes her competition, Elvira and her mother will resort to drastic measures to turn her into the perfect girl.

While Disney popularized the Grimm Brothers’ fairytale story of Cinderella, the original story was much darker in tone. Blichfeldt took inspiration from that darkness and crafted her own shocking, feminist, body horror take on the story we all know and love, all from the perspective of one of the stepsisters. The Ugly Stepsister begins when Elvira, her mother, and younger sister arrive at their new home – the home of Elvira’s soon to be stepfather and stepsister, Agnes. True to the original story, right after the wedding the stepfather tragically dies. Unlike the Disney version, Elvira starts out as quite a sweet girl. Blichfeldt makes a point of highlighting the girl’s good qualities. Because the family has no money, when the castle announces a ball for the prince to find a virgin bride, Elvira is willing to do anything to earn his love. This takes the story down a twisted path as Elvira’s mother forces her to go through horrific, painful procedures to become more beautiful.

There are two themes throughout The Ugly Stepsister that make for a compelling viewing experience. The first is the lengths women go to in order to be more desirable to men. While the story takes place in a different time, it still rings true today. Elvira is tormented by her own desire for the prince and her mother’s ambition. Even without income, the mother finds ways to pay for Elvira’s procedures, many graphic and painful for the poor girl. Her own desires and her mother’s expectations, combined with the physical torment, are enough to drive anyone mad. The second theme is similar, but connects more to how beauty can often get you further in life than anything else as a woman. Elvira is kind, devoted, a talented dancer, and a virgin. On paper, she has everything the prince or other wealthy bachelors could want. Yet her stepsister, Agnes, is the one people are drawn to. She is also kind, to a point, but Agnes doesn’t have Elvira’s dancing skills and is not a virgin. Yet, because Agnes is a beauty, everything in life comes easily to her. It’s a sad reality that is true even today. The way Blichfeldt presents these characters and themes is brilliant because the audience can understand both girls’ perspectives. Neither is at fault because they are victims of their circumstances and the world they live in.

Every performance in The Ugly Stepsister is incredible. Lea Myren (Jenter, Maxitaxi Driver) stars as Elvira. While no one would use the word “ugly” to describe Myren, she does a great job of making Elvira appear to be an awkward, naive young woman. Myren is phenomenal in how she conveys the character’s willpower, gradually turning to unhinged desperation as she goes through more and more physical and emotional torment. She is the driving force and heart of the film, endearing audiences to the character even at her most insane. The Ugly Stepsister also features wonderful performances from Ane Dahl Torp (The Wave), Flo Fagerli (Nr. 24), and Thea Sofie Loch Næss (Arctic Void).

Every technical aspect of The Ugly Stepsister is a masterpiece. As the film begins, audiences are sure to be drawn in by the dreamy music composed by John Erik Kaada (1001 Grams). Helping to create the fairytale look while transporting the audience to a different time are fantastic sets and production design, along with absolutely amazing costume design. What really makes The Ugly Stepsister stand out is the frightful body horror. Through practical effects, the film showcases all manner of horrific, medieval cosmetic procedures meant to make Elvira beautiful. Each one is more disturbing than the last, delivering a number of gruesome scenes to make viewers’ skin crawl and stomachs churn.

The Ugly Stepsister is a grotesque, feminist work of body horror, as dreamy as it is horrifying. It’s hard to believe this is Blichfeldt’s first feature film, marking the start of what is sure to be a bright film career. She creates a fascinating new spin on a familiar story, while still keeping the look and feel like a classic fairytale. Myren is a force of nature as Elvira, and her performance, combined with the gnarly imagery, makes for a viewing experience that worms its way into the mind and doesn’t let go. There is no doubt the film will be a favorite this year for horror lovers. Be sure to watch The Ugly Stepsister, in select theaters beginning April 18th.

OVERALL RATING: 9/10