The Ugly Stepsister 2025

Non spoiler thoughts (summary): I experience this as a darkly funny and uncomfortable film about beauty, acceptance, and the ridiculous extremes people go through just to fit society’s standards. The wardrobe, production design, and cinematography do a lot to pull me into its period setting, and the actresses sell the emotional spiral really well. It also carries this strange mix of coming of age awkwardness, sexuality, and body horror that makes the whole thing feel both amusing and disturbing. For me, the film lands as a twisted reminder that trying too hard to become “beautiful” can end up destroying what was already there. ⚠️ Spoilers ahead. From here on, plot details are discussed. Read on if you’ve seen the film. If not, save this post and come back after. ⚠️ Funny because of its absurdity. The early signs are already there when they remove her braces and start fixing her nose. That moment alone sets the tone. But honestly she is not even ugly to begin with. She just wants to be accepted for who she is, and that struggle of trying to fit into the beauty standards imposed by society becomes the core of the story. The wardrobe, production design, and cinematography are expertly crafted for a period piece. Everything from the dresses to the interiors feels carefully designed to place me in that world. The visuals carry a lot of the film’s charm. At the same time it also feels like a coming of age story mixed with the discovery of sexuality and voyeurism. There are moments where curiosity about desire are explored in the film. The sewing of the fake eyelashes was very uncomfortable to watch. I think that scene says a lot about the lengths women are willing to go through just to match society’s idea of beauty. Cosmetic surgeries, painful procedures, and even starving themselves so they do not gain weight. The film exaggerates it but the point still lands. The actresses are great here. I can really feel their emotions, especially Elvira when she becomes desperate and starts spiraling downward. The cutting of the feet scene is disturbing and painful to watch. But the wrong foot gag right after made me laugh. That joke honestly reminded me of the kind of absurd humor you see in Scary Movie parodies. For me the lesson is simple. If it ain't broken, don't fix it. She was already beautiful in her own way. But when cosmetics are pushed too far, the attempt to become beautiful ironically turns her into something uglier instead.