The Ugly Stepsister Second Sight 4K UHD Review

If there was ever a fairytale reimagined with the sort of grimly imaginative excess that makes horror fans sit up and take notice, The Ugly Stepsister is it.

The Ugly Stepsister is a Norwegian film directed by Emilie Blichfeldt that reworks the classic Cinderella story through ruthless body horror and subversive satire. It follows Elvira, an unlikely heroine who undergoes increasingly extreme cosmetic “self-improvements” in a bid to make herself attractive enough to win a prince’s heart – a premise that leads to scenes of grotesque modification and startling humour.

It’s not for the squeamish – the Clockwork Orange-esque eyeball scene alone will have you squirming, no matter how strong your stomach.

There’s body horror here that’s not just gory for the sake of gore – from creepy cosmetic procedures to grotesque practical effects that linger in the mind long after the credits roll – and the 4K presentation makes every stitch, break, and transformation feel tactile. It’s the kind of film that will make you squirm, recoil, and reflect – exactly the sort of experience that rewards repeat viewings on home media. So, if you’ve ever wondered what would happen when Cinderella collides with avant-garde body horror, The Ugly Stepsister delivers – and this limited edition 4K UHD/Blu-ray package from Second Sight Films is easily one of the more ambitious physical media offerings of early 2026.

You get the 4K Ultra HD disc with Dolby Vision HDR alongside a standard Blu-ray, ensuring compatibility and excellent picture quality no matter your setup. There’s also a hefty 120-page booklet full of essays, storyboard comparisons, and deep context on the film’s creation, plus six collector art cards for enthusiasts who love tactile extras. As with all Second Sight’s output, this feels curated for fans who actually care about the film as an object worth owning.

In 4K, this Stepsister is far from ugly. The Dolby Vision HDR pushes out rich contrast and nuanced colours that really bring Emilie Blichfeldt’s twisted fairy-tale world to life. It’s a film that lives in chiaroscuro – bright, ornate costumes and pastoral landscapes set against grotesque, visceral transformations – and the 4K transfer honours that aesthetic without bloating grain or losing detail. Audio is carried in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and while this isn’t an action blockbuster with booming effects, ambience and score are given space to elevate the eerier moments. This 4K Ultra HD disc with HDR is a jump above streaming – and it’s exactly what this movie’s visual ambition deserves. Emilie Blichfeldt’s grim, grotesque world blends lush period-style production design with increasingly visceral physical horror, brought to life in ways that flatter both the gothic and the grotesque. Costumes, landscapes, and set pieces pop with a painterly richness, while the darker, blood-soaked sequences retain texture without turning into a muddy mess.

The audio mix (DTS-HD Master Audio on both discs) is similarly robust – the creak of leather, the score, and the thud of chisel meeting nasal bone all sit well in space without ever overwhelming the dialogue or subtleties of performance. It’s not an effects-heavy blockbuster mix, but it serves this kind of intense close-quarters horror very well.

The Blu-ray disc, meanwhile, is a great fallback if you don’t yet have a 4K player: sharper and better-defined than online streaming versions, with clean subtitling and well-balanced sound.

When it comes to bonus features – as with all Second Sight offerings – this is where the edition really earns its keep:

• Dual format edition including both UHD and Blu-ray with main feature and bonus features on both discs
• UHD presented in HDR with Dolby Vision
• New audio commentary with Director Emilie Blichfeldt and Filmmaker Patrik Syversen — Has the feel of a nice, clear, free flowing chat about the film between two friends. Really interesting commentary covering most you’ll want to know regarding how the story came about, how scenes were shot and the reasoning behind it. Superb.
• New audio commentary by Meagan Navarro – Commentary by film critic and journalist Meagan Navarro. Upbeat commentary with Meagan who gives her thoughts on the film. This is a totally different feeling commentary to the other one, which is exactly what you want from a multi commentary disc. This is more akin to listening to a friends’ thought on a film and why you should watch it. There’s no real production meat on the bone as she had nothing to do with the production. Still a decent commentary and helps you work out some of your own thoughts on the film. 
• This Is My Ball: a new interview with Emilie Blichfeldt – 35 minute interview done in a grey room. It’s a well lit interview with nice, clear sound. Discusses the background of the story, body shaming, the inception of the project and making the film. This is a charming interview and Emilie comes across so well, she discusses her earlier shorts too, and you’ll get to watch those on this disc.
• Generational Trauma: a new interview with Actor Lea Myren – 19 minutes with Lea Myren discussing why she took on the project, casting process, how it made her feel playing Elvira form casting to finally making the film. Another great interview, shot in that grey room. 
• Take Up Space: a new interview with Actor Thea Sofie Loch Næss – Second Sight keeping up the diminishing time on interviews thing with this one clocking in at about 14 minutes, Sofie played Agnes (Cinderella) in the film. She discusses how she nearly never got the part due to being older by the shoot date. This is shot in a darker studio than the grey room, but still well lit with superb clear sound. Another great short interview.
• Character and Gore: a new interview with Effects Artist Thomas Foldberg – 18 minutes with the effects artist discussing his inspirations and how they made some of the make up effects and body horror stuff in the film. Another great interview, shot in what looks like his workshop. Again well lit and great sound.
• The Beauty of Ugly: The Effects of The Ugly Stepsister – 11 minutes with Thomas Foldberg showing the prosthetics used in the film. Discussing the eye shot is fascinating and makes you appreciate just how good the effects in the film are. You may have noticed that eye scene stuck with me. 
• A Cinderella Story: Kat Hughes on The Ugly Stepsister – An 18 minute reading of an academic paper on the film. You know how much I love these pieces… This one’s not too bad but does feel read, at a slightly too fast speed, like they said she had 20 minutes to read her 25 minute script. 
• Deleted Scene: A deleted scene between Agnes and Elvira and a piano piece. A further glimpse into Elvira’s intensity. 
• Short Films: How Do You Like My Hair? and Sara’s Intimate Confessions – two great little shorts from Emilie, they both cover the relationships we (and society) have with our bodies, in wildly different ways. Don’t overlook these superb additions to this phenomenal release.

For cult horror fans and physical media collectors alike, this limited edition is a no-brainer. The 4K picture and HDR presentation are gorgeous and fitting for a film that is equal parts fairytale and fever dream. The extras are robust and thoughtful, especially for such a niche title, but then we’ve come to expect nothing less from Second Sight.

If you already own the movie digitally, this release still offers more – deeper context, richer picture/sound, and the kind of tactile experience that digital can’t replicate. If you haven’t seen the film yet, this Blu-ray/4K combo is arguably the best way to experience one of the most talked-about horror fairytale adaptations in recent years.