CAF 2024: Lonely Castle In the Mirror (12A)

Japan | 116 mins | 12a | Japanese with English subtitles | Dir. Keiichi Hara

Junior high student Kokoro no longer feels comfortable at school, and spends her days within the confines of her room at home. Early one afternoon in May, her mirror suddenly begins to emit a bright light, and it sucks her inside. When she opens her eyes, she sees a castle like something out of a fairytale, and meets six other junior high students who are all total strangers.

What’s more, a girl wearing a lupine mask who demands to be called “Ms. Wolf” makes an announcement: “Somewhere in this castle is a wish room. It can make anything you desire come true, but only one of you seven ‘red riding hoods’ can enter.” They have until March 30th of the following year to find the key and use it. However, if any of them breaks the rules, a terrifying wolf will appear, and devour everyone in the castle.