The first trailer for The Ugly Stepsister has been released.
The Ugly Stepsister is a new horror movie from IFC Films and Shudder that is a brutal retelling of the classic Cinderella fairytale. Written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, the movie will be released this coming April.
Check out The Ugly Stepsister trailer below (watch more trailers and clips):
What happens in The Ugly Stepsister trailer?
The Ugly Stepsister trailer includes some R-rated, gory footage of the movie’s main character, played by Lea Myren, attempting to transform her body in order to win the attention of a prince and find her happily ever after.
“A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, The Ugly Stepsister follows Elvira (Myren) as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost,” the synopsis for the movie reads. “In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira will compete with the beautiful and enchanting Agnes (Thea Sofie Loch Næss) to become the belle of the ball.”
The Ugly Stepsister had its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival this past January. According to Variety, one “moviegoer leaned over into the aisle and vomited” while watching the film.
The article further reads, “Emilie Blichfeldt’s body horror film includes several difficult-to-watch scenes of crude cosmetic surgery, including its protagonist eating a tapeworm, sewing in eyelashes, and enduring a barbaric rhinoplasty.”
The Ugly Stepsister marks Blichfeldt’s feature film directorial debut. The movie was also shown at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2025 after premiering at Sundance. Maria Ekerhovd produces the movie, while Lizette Jonjic, Mariusz Włodarski, Theis Nørgaard, Zefyr, and Film i Väst serve as co-producers. Ane Dahl Torp stars in the movie alongside Myren and Thea Sofie Loch Næss.
The Ugly Stepsister will be released in United States theaters on April 18, 2025, from IFC Films and Shudder, and in UK theaters on April 25, 2025.
