The Ugly Stepsister (2025)

The Ugly Stepsister

• The only reason I got around to watching this was because it’s nominated for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, and I wanted to see what it’s all about. Well let me say this, this isn’t a film you forget about quickly. When it comes to body horror, there’s several more films that are more memorable, but this was still very icky at times and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t squirm a tiny bit. Maybe not physically, but definitely mentally. If you liked ‘The Substance’, then you’ll definitely like this. It’s not as extreme, but it uses the human body in the same way ‘The Substance’ did. It’s basically a rated R version of Cinderella, but not in a cheesy or crappy way. Not like the horror Poohniverse. It’s done in a very artful and relatable way. Relatable might not be the best word, but it certainly connects to the human race in a relatable way. It’s all about vanity and pleasing others, no matter what lengths that it changes you, both with your body and your mind. The fun part is how it’s from the viewpoint of one of the step sisters, and not Agnes (Cinderella). It makes it more unique and feels new. And of course, the body horror is great. Again, there’s a lot more memorable stuff out there, but when something painful or gross was happening, it was definitely happening. What’s also nice is how it’s not just gross to be gross, but it’s literally the point of the story. It takes a (mostly) grounded approach to body improvements based on when this takes place. Nothing over the top or unrealistic. It’s literally just a retelling from a different POV, just much more extreme, and I’m here for it. The performances were all good but nothing great, except for Lea Myren, who was pretty fantastic. Overall, it’s a sick but fun film, though it’s nothing groundbreaking or anything that’s insanely good. There’s a couple little bits that feel slightly drawn out, but it’s not too long and feels like a very complete story. Especially the last 20-25 minutes. That’s where the final punch lands. I would recommend this to most dark comedy/horror fans. This film is officially Berry Approved, so go watch it now!