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Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the horror film The Ugly Stepsister. The Ugly Stepsister (Blichfeldt 2025)
Marshall Smith, PhD, and Laura Patterson, PhD, offer a sociological discussion of the 2024 film It’s What’s Inside, written and directed by G. Jardin.
The Ugly Stepsister is the result of smart, outstanding filmmaking. With a budget of only about 4 million dolllars, Blichfeldt with her cast and crew have created an immersive horrifying fairy tale. With superb acting, judicious use of effects to maximize impact, and masterful storytelling, this film delivers. It is fun, horrifying, grotesque, and, importantly, has a perspective and a message that is interesting, valuable, and worthwhile. Laura and I both strongly recommend this film. We want to give extra kudos to everyone who contributed to makeup, costuming, and special effects.
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SPOILERS IN THIS EPISODE
None expect for The Ugly Stepsister
TOPIC INDEX – The Ugly Stepsister (Blichfeldt 2025) (times are approximate)
0:30 – Introductions
4:00 – Film discussion begins without spoilers
4:00 – overall thoughts, we strongly recommend viewing hte film
11:45 – SPOILERS section begins
12:30 – homage to fairy tales especially Cinderella
15:00 – deconstructing the neoliberalism and patriarchy of Cinderella
27:30 – Agnes and Elvira
38:00 – use of gore
39:00 – Agnes’ epiphany
51:00 – menarche
54:00 – actor transformation
1:01:00 – grading the film using the Collective Nightmares Evolving Rubric of Social Responsibility
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American Mary (Soska sisters 2023)
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“Horror films are our collective nightmares.”
Episode 145