The Brothers Grimm were sadistic perverts in their moral fables for children that in reality were pure, sadistic subterfuge. Hyperbolic? Yeah, sure, but this new take on CINDERELLA, is at times, more brutal than THE BRUTALIST.
HIFF is honored to present the Hawai‘i premiere of THE UGLY STEPSISTER, after its wild Sundance world premiere. With bold storytelling, New Wave synth soundtrack, bravura performances, and a cinematic rendition that rips apart the pretty packaging of femininity and power, THE UGLY STEPSISTER is a must watch for any genre fan, especially if THE SUBSTANCE messed with your head (in the best way)!
This one’s got all the ingredients: revenge, beauty, body horror, and a deep, pitch-black feminist undercurrent. It’s the Fairy Tale You Think You Know—Until It Isn’t…
The film flips the CINDERELLA story on its head. This isn’t about glass slippers or fairy godmothers. It’s about the sister left in the shadows—the one dismissed, mocked, and labeled ugly—and what happens when she decides she’s not going to take it anymore. It’s familiar, but totally reimagined with teeth.
If THE SUBSTANCE scratched your itch for wild, body-transformation horror and commentary on beauty, aging, and womanhood—THE UGLY STEPSISTER is in the same twisted family. It dives deep into obsession, envy, and what it really costs to become the “ideal woman.” And yes, there are moments that are just as uncomfortably raw and unforgettably weird. You’ve been warned!
The film also nails the gothic vibe. Think candlelight, decaying opulence, eerie makeup, and a creeping sense of dread wrapped in velvet and lace. It’s visually stunning, but there’s always something sinister lurking just underneath. Like the Grimm tales before they were sanitized for kids—where actions had real consequences and monsters often wore a pretty face…or lived in your intestinal tract…
In the end, THE UGLY STEPSISTER is about women—how they’re seen, how they see themselves, and the brutal pressure to be desirable, no matter the cost. It’s messy in all the right ways—a pastiche that straddles Euro New Wave aesthetics accompanied by a killer ‘80s synth track, and some very, very intense body manipulation sequences that makes THE SUBSTANCE a walk in the park. Again, you’ve been warned…
So all the freaks out there, don’t walk, RUN to see THE UGLY STEPSISTER!
THE UGLY STEPSISTER screens on April 11, 8:00pm at Consolidated Kahala (One screening only) Buy Tickets
