‘The Ugly Stepsister’ Heads for Lavish 4K Release from Second Sight
- Horror News
Oliver Mitchell- 0
- 4 minutes read
Second Sight Films has confirmed that The Ugly Stepsister, the debut feature from Norwegian filmmaker Emilie Blichfeldt, will receive a Dual Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray release in the UK on 23 February 2026. Standard editions will also be made available on the same date, with pre-orders now open.
The popular satirical body horror film, which reworks elements of the Cinderella fairytale, premiered earlier this year as the opening film of the Midnight section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before screening at the Panorama strand of the Berlin International Film Festival. The film has since screened at several international festivals, including Sitges, where it competed in the Oficial Fantàstic Competició section.
Written and directed by Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister stars Lea Myren as Elvira, a young woman pushed into increasingly extreme physical transformations as she competes with her stepsister Agnes, played by Thea Sofie Loch Næss, for social standing and the attention of a prince. Ane Dahl Torp co-stars as Rebekka, Elvira’s mother, whose ambitions drive much of the film’s central conflict, alongside Flo Fagerli as Elvira’s younger sister Alma.
The film uses body horror to examine themes of beauty, social pressure and control, reframing the familiar fairytale from the perspective of the so-called “ugly” stepsister. It was theatrically released in Norway in March 2025 by Scanbox Entertainment, followed by releases in Denmark and Sweden. In the United States, the film opened theatrically in April through IFC Films. Streaming service Shudder acquired distribution rights for North America, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Second Sight’s Limited Edition Dual Format release will present the film in 4K UHD and Blu-ray, housed in a slipcase featuring newly commissioned artwork by Ann Bembi. The set will include a 120-page book and a collection of bonus materials, including newly recorded commentaries, interviews with the filmmakers and cast, and two short films by Blichfeldt. Full technical specifications and special features have been detailed by the distributor ahead of release.
The Standard Edition releases will include the film and selected bonus features without the additional packaging elements.
The Dual Limited Edition 4K UHD and Blu-ray release, along with Standard Editions, will be available from UK retailers on 23 February 2026.
The Ugly Stepsister trailer
