The Ugly Stepsister, now on Hulu, is a fairy-tale version of The Substance

Emilie Blichfeldt’s tackle Cinderella, The Ugly Stepsister, simply landed on Hulu, and it’s really a sight to behold. Whereas I used to be ready for the Norwegian movie’s gory adherence to the Brothers Grimm version of the worldwide folks story (which has Cinderella’s stepsisters mutilating their toes to make the glass slipper match, in a bid to marry the prince), I wasn’t ready for its magnificence, nor its complexity.

Fairly than specializing in Cinderella herself (known as Agnes within the movie, and performed by Thea Sofie Loch Næss), The Ugly Stepsister focuses on her eldest “ugly” stepsister, Elvira (Lea Myren). Elvira and Agnes’ lives first collide when Elvira’s mom, Rebekka (Ane Dahl Torp), marries Agnes’ father, Otto (Ralph Carlsson). Rebekka strikes Elvira and her little sister Alma (Flo Fagerli) into Otto’s lavish house, the place their new stepsister, Agnes, reveals her round.

The newly blended household barely will get a second to bond earlier than tragedy strikes. Whereas having fun with his post-nuptial meal, Otto makes a number of snide remarks about Elvira’s look and even flings a chunk of cake at her face. She laughs alongside, although it is clear she’s harm. Moments later, Otto begins coughing up blood and drops useless proper there on the dinner desk, in a scene that is each stunning and admittedly just a little humorous. The Ugly Stepsister will not elicit any belly-laughs, however Blichfeldt definitely has a humorousness.

It is rapidly revealed that Rebekka and Otto primarily acquired married for monetary causes, however neither of them even have any cash. Rebekka — who’s now liable for Agnes along with her two organic daughters — is distraught, realizing the household will quickly face monetary wreck. Debtors have already come calling, and can repossess Otto’s house if Rebekka does not come into some severe money, quick. On the brilliant aspect, royal heartthrob Prince Julian (Isac Calmroth) and his father, the king, are throwing a ball for all of the native virgins, so Julian can discover a respectable bride. As creepy as that sounds, Rebekka sees this opportunity at a royal marriage as her solely choice to safe a future for herself and her youngsters, so she units to work getting Agnes and Elvira ready for the ball. (Alma, because the youngest, is fortunately spared from this horror present, and later, when she begins her interval, she has the great sense to cover it from her mom, in order to not get roped into the chaos.)

Even earlier than the ball, Elvira incessantly daydreams about Prince Julian, so getting an invitation to the ball is a dream come true. She’s decided to catch the prince’s eye, it doesn’t matter what components of herself she has to starve away, break, or reduce off to suit into society’s slender view of feminine magnificence. Sadly, the competitors is fairly stiff.

Agnes — our Cinderella stand-in — is tall, blonde, and effortlessly fairly, whereas Elvira is depicted as plain and dumpy, though she’s actually attractive. Like many feminine movie protagonists who endure a bodily transformation, Elvira begins out with dental braces, unlucky hair styling, and merciless environment, relatively than really being some ugly creature. Rebekka takes Elvira to a health care provider to take away her braces, which is painful sufficient, however the physician in query additionally decides that Elvira’s petite nostril is by some means an issue. Rebekka permits him to carry out a horrific nosejob on her daughter, first breaking it, then “resetting” it. Elvira spends a big portion of the movie with an odd leather-based contraption strapped to her face, meant to assist her damaged nostril heal within the “appropriate” place. Sarcastically, this contraption makes her look far worse than her authentic nostril ever did.

Picture: Scanbox Leisure

Rebekka additionally sends Elvira and Agnes to etiquette courses, which appear to focus much more on bodily perfection than which fork to make use of at a flowery meal. It is right here that Agnes and Elvira actually begin to develop a rivalry. In etiquette class, Elvira is moved to the again (with the remainder of the “ugly” ladies), whereas Agnes is up on the entrance, as infuriatingly good as ever. Decided to show her dedication to her instructor, her mom, and her stepsister, Elvira agrees to swallow a tapeworm to drop extra pounds, though she’s a superbly wholesome measurement. The parasite does assist her drop extra pounds, but in addition causes her to lose hair. At instances, The Ugly Stepsister seems like a fairy-tale model of The Substance, with Elvira persevering with to deteriorate and smiling by means of the ache the entire method — although I a lot desire this movie’s grounded ending to what we acquired in The Substance.

Loch Næss is likely to be my favourite Cinderella. She’s clearly devastated by her father’s dying and sad about her present circumstances, however she additionally is aware of what’s at stake for her household, and he or she’s prepared to sacrifice herself on the altar of marriage, though she isn’t in love with the prince. As an alternative of being a naïve optimist like most screen versions of Cinderella, Agnes is a realist. Whereas some features of her life could also be simpler because of her bodily attraction, that bodily attraction additionally causes her an excessive amount of ache, as most individuals round her solely see worth in her magnificence. She’s additionally not in love with the prince, who she has by no means met, and who additionally occurs to be a whole asshole. As an alternative, Agnes has grown keen on a neighborhood steady boy, a revelation that makes each Elvira and Rebekka extraordinarily upset. In the meantime, Elvira is aware of of the prince’s cruelty — he even mocks her look when he catches her spying on him and his pals — however is solely unfazed by it, seeming to desire the candy, caring model of him she’s conjured in her head relatively than the chilly, egocentric younger man he is confirmed himself to be outdoors of her fantasies.

The Ugly Stepsister‘s bloody (but surprisingly hopeful and heartwarming) ending is what makes it really stand out as a Cinderella adaptation. Sure, there are various stomach-churning scenes, together with the notorious toe-chopping. However there are additionally some unexpectedly lovely moments, just like the scene the place Agnes weeps over her father’s decomposing physique. Her household hasn’t but been in a position to afford a correct funeral, however relatively than maggots, Otto’s corpse is roofed in silkworms. The silkworms mend Agnes’ ballgown (which Elvira ruined in a jealous rage), creating an ethereal, beautiful gown for her to put on to the social gathering. The scene that nearly feels prefer it belongs in a Tim Burton film.

Picture: Scanbox Leisure

Although The Ugly Stepsister options wonderful physique horror and a few really beautiful cinematography, my favourite facet of the movie is the best way Blichfeldt’s script offers each Cinderella and her “ugly” stepsister sufficient room to develop as characters. The Ugly Stepsister does not criticize ladies for chasing unattainable magnificence requirements, however as an alternative examines the methods internalized misogyny destroys relationships between ladies. In contrast to The Substance — which appears to focus primarily on punishing its protagonist for attempting to chop corners in her quest for perfection — The Ugly Stepsister affords a extra nuanced take, with an almost-optimistic ending that highlights the worth of sisterhood. It’s a gripping (and at instances, darkly humorous) watch that may preserve followers of fairy tales and physique horror alike glued to the display.

The Ugly Stepsister is streaming on Hulu, AMC Plus, and Shudder, and is offered for digital rental at Amazon.