"Ugly Stepsister: Cinderella Horror Now Streaming"

It's a fascinating trend to see horror movies emerge from tales that once received the Disney treatment. While many in this genre capitalize on the shock value and play on the nostalgia of beloved childhood characters, The Ugly Stepsister offers a deeper, more thoughtful take on its source material. This Norwegian body horror film, inspired by Cinderella, delves into themes more fitting for the genre than, say, a horror version of Winnie the Pooh.

The movie doesn't shy away from the gruesome, as evidenced by the reported vomit incident at its Sundance premiere. It currently boasts an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Critic Katie Rife from IGN 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 stomach's resilience, 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 platform that starts at $7.50/month and offers a 7-day free trial. Shudder is also included with an AMC+ membership. If you're not keen on adding another subscription, you can rent or purchase the film from digital marketplaces like Prime Video.

The film's transition to streaming is timely, coming less than a month after its U.S. theatrical release, yet nearly five months following its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. It also premiered in Norway a month before reaching North American audiences, indicating a successful run for an independent horror film.

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's review, "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 intertwined with 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 Cast and Characters

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

• Lea Myren as Elvira
• Thea Sofie Loch Næss as Agnes
• Ane Dahl Torp as Rebekka, the stepmother
• Flo Fagerli as Alma
• Isac Calmroth as Prince Julian
• Malte Gårdinger as Isak
• Ralph Carlsson as Otto
• Isac Aspberg as The Feinschmecker
• Albin Weidenbladh as The Omnivorous
• Oksana Czerkasyna as Cook
• Katarzyna Herman as Madame Vanja
• Adam Lundgren as Dr. Esthétique
• Willy Ramnek Petri as Frederik von Bluckfish
• Cecilia Forss as Sophie von Kronenberg