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| Image Courtesy of Shudder |
Grimm Brothers’ fairy tales lend themselves well to modern horror film adaptations, some with more depth than others. Many of these adaptations were sanitized and made famous through animated Disney films. But occasionally, more faithful adaptations come along to de-romanticize the original stories.
The Danish-language The Ugly Stepsister works hard to maintain the darker ideas from the Grimm Brothers’ ‘Aschenputtel (The Little Ash Girl).’ This original version of Cinderella lends itself well to a body horror film adaptation, and successfully weaves more horrific events of the original with more modern and relatable ideas about beauty standards.
First-time director Emilie Blichfeldt follows the original story well, adding in more backstory and characterization for mother Rebekka and daughters Elvira and Alma. After their new stepfather suddenly dies, Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp) chooses Elvira (ugly according to fairy-tale standards) and stepsister Agnes (this film’s version of Cinderella) to compete for the hand of Prince Julian. Their future depends on being able to marry off one of the daughters to a wealthy suitor.
Elvira (Lea Myrin) is innocent, bright-eyed, and overly romantic as the titular stepsister. She swoons and daydreams over a poetry book about Prince Julian, providing the film with a Disney-like version of events. These daydreams provide a perfect contrast to the dark transformation Elvira undergoes in order to compete against Agnes (Thea Sophie Loch Næss). Actress Myrin gives a moving physical performance, making the pain that Elvira suffers feel all too real.
Mother Rebekka pays for a brutal and primitive nose job for Elvira, as well as training in a beauty finishing school. Besides the body transformation, Elvira also experiences her coming of age, as Agnes explains the more sexual acts described romantically in Elvira’s poetry book. The film then depicts the more well-known story in the third act.
Director Blichfeldt deftly blends different stylistic elements to make an old story new. Anachronistic music for some beauty training montages creates echoes of Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. Exploitation film tropes and a muted color palette give it a feel of something from the 70’s. More graphic depictions of body modification and body horror elements continue a recent trend of films exploring beauty standards, like last year’s The Substance.
The Ugly Stepsister received funding from Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, and was filmed in Poland. Some films can lose their focus when there are so many influences and styles depicted on screen. But Stepsister maintains focus and uses a consistent vision to make viewers squirm, feel more empathy for Elvira, and enjoy the contrast of fairy tale ideas of love and beauty with reality.
The Ugly Stepsister is now streaming on Shudder.
- Eric Beach