Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fairy tale-mystery blend has violence, positive messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Once Upon a Crime
What's the Story?
Classic fairy tales are given a twist in ONCE UPON A CRIME, which tells the story of how Red Riding Hood (Kanna Hashimoto) becomes an unlikely detective when she helps solve a murder in order to get Cinderella (Yûko Araki) to the ball on time. But in a land where beauty is valued above everything else, appearances are not what they seem, and the most beautiful people conceal terrible secrets, while the most unexpected characters can become unexpected heroes.
Is It Any Good?
Fairy tales like the stories of Red Riding Hood and Cinderella have inspired countless adaptations since Charles Perrault published them more than three centuries ago. However, few have been as witty and inventive as Once Upon a Crime, a Japanese film where Little Red Riding Hood becomes a detective en route -- not to her grandmother's house, but to enhance her life. And wolves better be afraid of Red Riding, as played by Kanna Hashimoto, an expressive actor who plays her like a no-nonsense woman on a mission.
Director Yûichi Fukuda does a wonderful job of not merely revising the fairy tales, but leading us to rethink the perspectives from which these characters can be seen. And so, Red Riding isn't the only famous character done with a twist; we also meet a Cinderella (Araki Yuko) who has developed trauma from the bullying she's been subjected to her entire life, and a Witch (Kimura Midoriko) who insists that "magic shouldn't be permanent." The kingdom where the film is set, a place where "old" and "ugly" people are banished to make way for the young and beautiful, becomes a great allegory for our era where perfection on social media prevents us from seeing the pain, loneliness, and grief of others, and sometimes our own.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about other fairy tale characters they'd like to see as detectives. Would the Three Little Pigs make for good crime solvers? Would you trust Rapunzel or Snow White with a criminal case?
After seeing the effects bullying had on Cinderella, what consequences do you think other fairy tale characters had from their experiences? How do you think Snow White coped after realizing what her stepmother wanted to do to her? How do you think the princess was able to restore her sleep schedule after staying up because of a pea?
The kingdom where the film takes place cherishes beauty above everything else, but as seen in the film, beauty goes beyond appearances. What makes someone beautiful to you?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 14, 2023
- Cast : Kanna Hashimoto , Yûko Araki , Takanori Iwata
- Director : Yûichi Fukuda
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Integrity , Teamwork
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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