The makeup artists for the horror film The Ugly Stepsister truly deserve their Oscar nod, with one scene so intense it nearly made them sick on set.

Horror is finally getting the spotlight it deserves, with several chilling films snagging Oscar nominations ahead of the 98th Academy Awards, including The Ugly Stepsister for Makeup and Hairstyling. The intense body horror showcased in the film certainly justifies its nomination.

As the story unfolds, Elvira pushes her self-mutilation to the extreme in her quest for beauty, and the repercussions of her actions come back to haunt her. One of the most unsettling tapeworm scenes we’ve witnessed features Elvira violently expelling a long worm after swallowing an egg weeks earlier. This moment was not only stomach-churning for viewers but also had a profound impact on the cast and crew during filming.

“Lea [Myren]’s performance was so visceral that it almost made you want to vomit on set because she portrayed it so convincingly,” shared Prosthetic Makeup Effects Designer Thomas Foldberg. “It was a challenging scene. She was pulling these slimy worms out of her mouth, which made it particularly memorable.”

Directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister reimagines the classic Cinderella tale from the perspective of one of the stepsisters, Elvira. Desperate to win the prince’s affection, Elvira goes to extreme lengths to meet the kingdom’s beauty standards, including sewing false eyelashes onto her eyelids, undergoing brutal medieval cosmetic procedures, and even amputating her own toes.

It’s no surprise that Elvira’s self-mutilation scenes are difficult to watch, but Blichfeldt emphasizes that the true horror lies in the motivations behind her actions. “For me, blood and gore can be effective, but what initially drew me to body horror is the way it allows audiences to empathize with characters through their physical suffering,” the director explained. “The gore in body horror is always infused with intention, metaphor, or a message that you want the audience to grasp.”

The pressure to conform to societal beauty standards is a relatable theme in today’s world. “I think this pressure has always existed,” Blichfeldt noted. “Many people are reluctant to admit that they place value on their appearance because they fear not being loved.”

The Ugly Stepsister is available for streaming on Shudder and Hulu.