The Ugly Stepsister: A Horror Film So Disturbing It Made Viewers Vomit!

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Today, a fresh take on the classic Cinderella tale, with an unexpected twist similar to The Substance, hits theaters. It left one viewer feeling nauseous at its premiere.

In 2024, The Substance was a highly praised and buzzed-about horror film. It provided Demi Moore with an unparalleled acting opportunity, as she portrayed an aging celebrity grappling with unjust beauty norms, all while the plot delved into some genuinely Cronenberg-esque gore.

For a justifiable comparison, “The Ugly Stepsister” movie shares similarities with “The Substance,” both delving into the twisted realm of distorted beauty enhancement. However, “The Ugly Stepsister” takes this concept to an even more intense level when it comes to body horror. Moreover, it stands out as one of the most innovative and enjoyable horror films released in 2025.

According to reports from the Sundance Film Festival, an unexpected and shocking moment occurred at the premiere of one film, where someone vomited in the aisle. Prepare yourself for what follows, as I’m about to reveal some potential plot twists…SPOILER ALERT!

The Ugly Stepsister is a screwed up Cinderella story

Under the guidance of Norwegian director Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister offers a creative reinterpretation of the classic Cinderella tale, providing a distorted perspective on the narrative through the eyes of one of the main characters who bears the story’s title.

In this story, Elvira (Lea Myren), the not-so-attractive step-sister, is at the center of our focus. Her mother Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp) ties the knot with a wealthier man named Otto, primarily due to his financial status. However, it is later revealed that Otto married Rebekka under the belief that she, not him, was the wealthy one. Consequently, when Otto passes away shortly after their wedding, Rebekka, her daughters, and their newly acquired beautiful step-sister find themselves on the brink of poverty.

In simpler terms, Elvira is a romantic who adores fairy tales, and she dreams about marrying the handsome Prince Julian. As he arranges a ball for wealthy nobles and merchants, Elvira views this event as a possibility to win over Julian. On the other hand, Rebekka sees it as an opportunity to marry her off to someone who has some wealth.

However, people nearby find Elvira unconventional in terms of attractiveness. Undeterred by this, Rebekka decides to change this perception, but as she delves into it, a wave of body horror ensues…

The shocking Ugly Stepsister scenes making people sick

The narrative unfolds as a small area is pressed, resulting in a buildup of pus that dominates the visual field, serving as a prelude to events that will predominantly be orchestrated by a physician self-proclaimed as Dr. Esthétique.

The sequence unfolds with a simple press on a spot, which quickly fills the view with pus, marking the beginning of a series of events primarily led by a doctor known as Dr. Esthétique.

Initially, he carefully takes off her braces using a large set of pliers, which seemed particularly uncomfortable for her.

Later on, he adjusts Elvira’s nose, allowing her face to be unburdened from the shadow cast by that bump for the rest of her life. However, this transformation is achieved through an unconventional method – striking her nose repeatedly with a hammer until it breaks, necessitating Elvira to wear a protective facial mask throughout a significant portion of the movie.

Once the issue is resolved, he chooses to “train the rose” by elongating its eyelashes. Therefore, Esthétique takes up a needle, threading it in and out of Elvira’s eyelid and skin area surrounding her lashes, in a sequence that’s quite hard to watch.

Elvira becomes her own worst enemy

As a gamer, I’d put myself in Elvira’s shoes: Surrounded by folks who constantly made me feel frumpy and overweight, it was a tough gig. Even when I got shipped off to an elite finishing school, the teachers and peers treated me just as poorly. This left me feeling like some sort of monster, leading me to make a tragic choice – I secretly consumed a tapeworm egg, hoping for a quick fix.

The concept revolves around a tapeworm developing within her, feeding on her food, until it can be treated using an antidote. However, as expected, the tapeworm causes illness in her, leading to hair loss and vomiting of tapeworm eggs.

However, what the character does to herself isn’t just distressing; it reaches its peak in a moment of self-destruction so extreme, it might make one feel nauseous. This scene resonates with the classic Cinderella story, where Elvira’s wicked stepsister dances with the Prince and leaves her glass slipper behind at his castle. Just as in the fairy tale, the Prince declares that the foot that fits the slipper is destined to belong to the woman he loves.

In a strange turn of events, the shoe doesn’t suit Elvira, causing her distress. Desperate to make it fit, she reaches for a meat cleaver and starts chopping at her foot, amputating her toes. Rebekka unexpectedly enters the room, and Elvira pleads with her mother, “I need to make this shoe fit… you have to help me.” Without hesitation, Rebekka assists, noticing that Elvira has cut the wrong foot and aiding in amputating the toes on the other one.

As a captivated observer, I must confess that the scenes depicted are often hard to bear. Yet, there’s an undeniable power in their symbolism. They serve as a chilling reminder of our society’s twisted perspective on beauty and pain – a perspective that still resonates deeply today.

Fortunately, moving forward, Elvira begins to recover both mentally and physically, leaving the story on a surprisingly hopeful tone. However, The Ugly Stepsister is not quite over, as Blichfeldt has one more twist in store, involving the persistent worm that remains inside Elvira’s stomach.

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2025-04-18 12:52