An impressionable and idealistic young woman dreams of marrying the kingdom’s prince but her beautiful stepsister becomes her greatest rival. Increasingly desperate she resorts to extreme measures in a quest for the physical perfection she believes will win the prince’s heart.
For in-depth thoughts on The Ugly Stepsister, please see my colleague Dave Giannini’s review from its original theatrical release here.
For additional thoughts on The Ugly Stepsister, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required:
Video Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Ugly Stepsister offers a sumptuous presentation that allows the film to look its best. The standard edition of the release does not include a Blu-Ray copy, so the exact level of uptick is unclear. Although the film is not overly vibrant, the HDR/Dolby Vision expands the range of the color spectrum to enviable heights when it comes to accuracy and depth. This 4K presentation excels when it comes to the balance of the contrast. Dolby Vision allows for a much healthier command of these differences within the frame with greater depth and finer delineation. Black levels stay deep and inky with exceptional detail, even in the parade of shadows. The highlights in the film are likewise firmly defined with whites pure and balanced, and no instances of blooming at play.
In terms of color reproduction, you could not ask for better. Elements of the lighting throughout the manor flicker off the screen with impressive resonance. The period costumes and the production design are accompanied by noteworthy splashes of color to keep things from becoming overly gloomy. Skin tones appear natural with healthy doses of crisp detail apparent on faces such as makeup. There are some gnarly effects that are presented in stomach-churning clarity. Fine detail is in great shape with the texture within the background impeccably defined. Second Sight has delivered another knockout transfer on this latest 4K release.
Audio Quality
This 4K UHD Blu-Ray utilizes a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original Norwegian that gives the narrative the sonic complexity it deserves. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting clipped by the music or sound effects. The score does an effective job of establishing the tone as it effectively saturates the room. Despite not being a particularly kinetic outing, all of the surround speakers make themselves known throughout from the expository moments to horrific developments. The effects in the low end from the subwoofer give moments the perfect amount of texture. Atmospheric sound effects are deftly rendered within the mix so that directionality is never in question. The Ugly Stepsister has been provided a track that effortlessly achieves its sonic ambitions. Optional English subtitles are provided.
Special Features
- Audio Commentaries: We get commentary tracks both from a personal point of view and an analytical lens that each satisfy in different ways. You will get more first-hand knowledge about how the film was made from the filmmaker track, but Navarro is filled with interpretations and insights that should not be missed.
- Audio Commentary #1: Director Emilie Blichfeldt and Filmmaker Patrik Syversen
- Audio Commentary #2: Film Critic Meagan Navarro
- Interviews: A selection of fascinating new interviews is provided in which the subjects discuss their experiences on the film, challenging moments during production, the art of collaboration, and more.
- This Is My Ball – A New Interview with Emilie Blichfeldt (34:29)
- Generational Trauma – A New Interview with Actor Lea Myren (19:08)
- Take Up Space – A New Interview with Actor Thea Sofie Loch Næss (14:33)
- Character and Gore – A New Interview with Effects Artist Thomas Foldberg (18:00)
- The Beauty of Ugly – The Effects of The Ugly Stepsister: An 11-minute featurette in which Thomas Foldberg walks you through the creation of some of the most upsetting moments from the movie.
- A Cinderella Story – Kat Hughes on The Ugly Stepsister: An 18-minute visual essay that takes a look at how this version of the classic story shakes off the “Disneyfication” of the story and explores new, rewarding avenues.
- Deleted Scenes: A three-minute unused scene is provided here in which our protagonist is asked to show her talents at the piano.
- Short Films: We get two more creative short films from Emilie Blichfeldt that show the audacious voice that would become more powerful with The Ugly Stepsister.
- How Do You Like My Hair? (10:48)
- Sara’s Intimate Confessions (21:53)
Final Thoughts
The Ugly Stepsister is a clever and upsetting body horror tale that takes the classic Cinderella story and subverts it with plenty of thematic verve. Emilie Blichfeldt crafts a tale that backs up its narrative ambition with a directorial flair that complements it on all fronts. The performances are wonderful and very committed across the board, and the eye towards building a believable world aids the experience throughout. It is one of the best horror films to emerge out of 2025. Second Sight has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a stellar A/V presentation and an unbelievable assortment of special features. If you are a fan of the film, this version is unlikely to be topped. Recommended
The Ugly Stepsister is currently available to purchase on Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu-Ray Combo Pack, 4K UHD, and Blu-Ray.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Second Sight has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
