Our take
The Ugly Stepsister is an unrated Norwegian horror comedy with extreme body horror. The 18 rating cites strong sex, nudity, and gore, including forced cosmetic surgery, self-harm, and explicit sexual scenes. Crude sexual dialogue appears in dialogue. Adults only
Uplifting themes
Anti-beauty-standard satire exists, but impact is drowned in gore
Story (may spoil tone)
In a fairy-tale kingdom where beauty is a brutal business, Elvira battles to compete with her incredibly beautiful stepsister, Agnes, and she will go to any length to catch the Prince’s eye.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Graphic mutilation, surgery, and bloody fantasy horror throughout
Graphic mutilation, surgery, and bloody fantasy horror throughout
Language Strong crude and sexual profanity in English subtitles
Strong crude and sexual profanity in English subtitles
Sex / nudity Explicit sex, nudity, and erect-penis imagery
Explicit sex, nudity, and erect-penis imagery
Drugs / alcohol Cocaine snorting appears in classification notes
Cocaine snorting appears in classification notes
Frightening Sustained body-horror set pieces and tapeworm imagery are deeply unsett…
Sustained body-horror set pieces and tapeworm imagery are deeply unsettling
Self-harm / suicide Self-mutilation and dangerous eating behavior are central
Self-mutilation and dangerous eating behavior are central
Child peril / abuse No child peril found in this title
No child peril found in this title
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons Knife surgery, blood spurts, and decaying corpses shown in detail
Knife surgery, blood spurts, and decaying corpses shown in detail
Dangerous behaviour Extreme cosmetic DIY and binge eating are modeled as desperation
Extreme cosmetic DIY and binge eating are modeled as desperation
Eating disorders / body image Obsession with beauty drives starvation, surgery, and self-harm
Obsession with beauty drives starvation, surgery, and self-harm
Mental health Desperation and body dysmorphia fuel the horror plot
Desperation and body dysmorphia fuel the horror plot
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement A delayed funeral and rotting corpse fuel family conflict
A delayed funeral and rotting corpse fuel family conflict
Talk after watching
- How does the film satirize beauty standards and patriarchal pressure?
- Graphic body horror can desensitize or disturb. Why do some filmmakers use extreme visuals for social commentary?