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Ulya (2026) ‘Cannes’ Movie Review: Kārlis Arnolds Avots’ Sincerity Doesn’t Save a Sketchy Biopic

Debanjan Dhar May 23, 2026

Cannes · Featured · Film Festivals · Review

Bitter Christmas (2026) ‘Cannes’ Movie Review: Minor Almodóvar Elevated by a Final Stretch of Reflexive Reconfiguring

Julian Malandruccolo May 22, 2026
Cannes · Featured · Film Festivals · Review

Death Has No Master (2026) ‘Cannes’ Movie Review: Asia Argento Commands Jorge Thielen Armand’s Seething Revenge Drama

Debanjan Dhar May 21, 2026

Lists

Harakiri_Best Samurai Movies

The 40 Best Samurai Movies, Ranked

May 21, 2026

WWII Movies Ranked - Come and See (1985)

The 20 Greatest WWII Movies Ever Made, Ranked

May 15, 2026

Anticipated Films of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival - Sheep in the Box

20 Most Anticipated Films of the 2026 Cannes Film Festival

May 17, 2026

Julian Malandruccolo

Reviews

Essays

Column

‘The Punisher: One Last Kill’ and the Portrait of a Man in a Million Pieces

Shivansh Mishra May 20, 2026
Essay

Stillness, Memory, and Time in the Cinema of Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang

Sree May 19, 2026
Column

Love in the Ruins of Paradise: How “Pathey Holo Deri” Turns Melodrama Into a Study of Desire and Selfhood

Sree May 14, 2026

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Shudder, AMC Networks’ premier streaming service for horror, thrillers, and supernatural content, has acquired North American, UK, and ANZ rights to The Ugly Stepsister, an innovative and twisted reimagining of the Cinderella story. The highly anticipated feature debut from Norwegian writer-director Emilie Blichfeldt is set to open the Midnight Section at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival before its release on Shudder later in the year. Starring Lea Myren, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, and Ane Dahl Torp, The Ugly Stepsister delves into a dark, chilling narrative of ambition and sacrifice. In a kingdom where beauty reigns supreme, Elvira is determined to win the prince’s heart, facing off against the radiant Agnes in a haunting and cutthroat competition to become the belle of the ball. "I am beyond thrilled to bring The Ugly Stepsister to Sundance and to share it with a wider audience alongside my incredible team and in partnership with Shudder," said director Emilie Blichfeldt. "This beauty-horror twist on Cinderella draws inspiration from The Brothers Grimm version of the tale and my own experiences with body image struggles. I hope it provokes empathy, discomfort, and deeper reflection on our collective obsession with beauty." Emily Gotto, Shudder’s SVP of Acquisitions and Production, praised the project: "The Ugly Stepsister flips the classic fairytale on its head, offering an unflinching blend of shocking burlesque and body horror. Emilie Blichfeldt’s debut is an extraordinary achievement, and we’re proud to showcase her work on Shudder." Produced in Norway by Maria Ekerhovd for Mer Film (The Innocents, War Sailor), the film is co-produced by an impressive international team, including Lizette Jonjic (Zentropa Sweden), Mariusz Włodarski (Lava Films, Poland), and Theis Nørgaard (Motor, Denmark). The production also benefits from contributions by Zefyr, Film i Väst, and various European film institutes, with backing from organizations such as the Norwegian Film Institute, Eurimages, and Nordisk Film & TV Fond. The deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto for Shudder and Alexandre Moreau, Head of Sales at Memento International, on behalf of the filmmakers. The Ugly Stepsister will make its worldwide streaming debut on Shudder in 2025 following its Sundance premiere.

International Film Festival · News

Shudder Acquires twisted fairy tale body horror ‘The Ugly Stepsister’ ahead of Sundance 2025 Premier

A still from Mirch Masala (1987)

Dirge of Resistance: Unveiling Patriarchy and Power in ‘Mirch Masala’ (1987)

Against the Tides: A Conversation with Sarvnik Kaur

Against the Tides: A Conversation with Sarvnik Kaur

Black Christmas (2019) Movie

Black Christmas (2019) Movie Ending Explained: How Do Riley and the Sisters Put an End to the Cult?

Film Festivals · IFFI · Review

Me, Maryam, the Children and 26 Others (2024) ‘Iffi’ Movie Review: A Comforting, Inventive Tale of Silent Rebellion and the Joys of the Creative Process

Sundance 2025 Lineup

International Film Festival · News

Sundance 2025 Complete Lineup Annouced: New Film by Ira Sachs, Sophie Hyde headline the Biggest Indie festival in the world

The Empty Man (2020)

The Empty Man (2020) Movie Ending Explained: What Drives James Lasombra’s Transformation into the Empty Man?

the return ralph fiennes

10 Best Ralph Fiennes Movie Performances

I, The Song (2024) ‘Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’ Movie Review

Film Festivals · Review

I, The Song (2024) ‘Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’ Movie Review: Dechen Roder’s Visually Evocative Film Traverses Rediscovery and Growth

Despatch (2024)

Review · Streaming Now · Zee5 Global

Despatch (2024) Movie Review: Manoj Bajpayee’s Committed Performance Barely Holds Together Kanu Behl’s Character-Driven Crime Journalism Drama