A trailer for the upcoming sinister fairy tale horror film “The Ugly Stepsister” has made its way to us as the new pic is gearing up for an exciting April 18 launch in theaters.
Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and Ane Dahl Torp star in lead roles for the satirical body horror film that hails from writer/director Emilie Blichfeldt and is the feature film debut of the promising filmmaker.
The new flick has a non-specific fantasy period setting and sees a young girl fed a tapeworm egg to help prevent weight gain, as it explores the exploitation of the body image of girls/women in a fairy tale horror narrative.
The film’s official synopsis from IFC Films and Shudder reads:
A sinister twist on the classic Cinderella story, “The Ugly Stepsister” follows Elvira (Lea Myren) as she prepares to earn the prince’s affection at any cost. 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. A biting satire and cinematically exhilarating directorial debut, “The Ugly Stepsister” is a timely examination of body image and beauty standards, identifying Emilie Blichfeldt as one of the most exciting new international filmmaking voices.
“The Ugly Stepsister,” taking a page from female-centric body horror films like “The Substance” (an unavoidable comparison), previously made its debut earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival. The Playlist’s review of the film said, “Blichfeldt’s debut feature…impresses with her talent and ambition, especially in some of the main set pieces.”
Watch the new trailer for “The Ugly Stepsister” below.
