Once Upon a Crime follows Red Riding Hood who’s forced to wear the shoes of a detective probing the Royal Hairdresser’s mysterious demise.
Once Upon a Crime, a Japanese Netflix Original directed by Yuichi Fakuda, is an adaptation of Aoiro Aoyagi’s intriguing novel, “Akazukin Encounters a Corpse on the Journey.” The thriller stars Kanna Hashimoto, Yuko Araki, Takanori Iwata, and Tsuyoshi Murio, among others. Within its enchanting tapestry, this Netflix film skilfully weaves together the threads of classic fairy tales, enigmatic mysteries, and delightful comedy, conjuring an entirely new realm filled with familiar characters.
Set in the land of fairy tales and magic, the film is an engaging whodunnit focusing on the mystery surrounding the death of the Royal Hairdresser. Once Upon a Crime’s ending focuses on the attempt of Red Riding Hood (Kanna Hashimoto) to find the killer who’s terrorizing the land.
Once Upon a Crime Story Summary
In a magical forest, Little Red Riding Hood (Kanna Hashimoto), struggling with her cape entangled in thorns and her uncomfortable shoes, encounters an elderly witch named Barbara (Midoriko Kimura). Barbara offers a magical solution to solve her struggle with the shoes, but Red Riding Hood declines, pressing forward despite the discomfort. Persistent, Barbara continues to pester Red Riding Hood, proposing a spell to transform her shoes for pain-free forest navigation.
Eventually, Red Riding Hood relents, and Barbara, wielding her wand, casts a spell on Red Riding Hood’s shoes. However, instead of enhancing comfort, the spell covers them in muck and slime. Shocked and frustrated, Red Riding Hood cries out in dismay while the witch conveys that she is not adept at shoe spells. Determined to remedy the mess, Red Riding Hood heads to a nearby stream to cleanse her shoes. But as she scrubs, the slippery mud-covered footwear slips from her grasp, vanishing into the rushing waters, leaving her barefoot in the heart of the enchanted forest.
Red Riding Hood Chances Upon Poor Cinderella
As Red Riding Hood continues her journey barefoot, she chances upon her missing shoes, now adorning the feet of a disheveled young girl. This unexpected encounter introduces her to Cinderella (Yuko Araki), who apologizes and returns the footwear. With her keen observational skills and instincts, Red Riding Hood discerns that Cinderella is a victim of cruel mistreatment by her stepmother and stepsisters, Anne (Natsuna Watanabe) and Margot (Yumi Wakatsuki). Cinderella, in shabby hand-me-downs, confesses that her perceived ugliness subjects her to a life of misery.
In this serendipitous moment, Barbara emerges and extends an offer to magically transform both girls and help them prepare for the Royal Palace ball. The event holds the promise of an opportunity to become Prince Gilbert’s (Takanori Iwata) bride, a prospect Cinderella eagerly desires to escape her torment. Barbara enchants their appearances and adorns them with exquisite gowns but is unable to conjure appropriate footwear due to her limited skills.
Thankfully, Tekla (Mirei Kiritani), Barbara’s niece and fellow witch, appears at the right moment and she effortlessly crafts glass slippers for the two. In a flourish of enchantment, the witches convert a humble pumpkin into a magnificent carriage and elevate a humble mouse named Paul (Tsuyoshi Muro) to the role of chauffeur.
Barbara cautions that her magic will wane by midnight, while Tekla’s glass slippers will endure for twenty-four hours. With their hearts filled with newfound hope, the two girls, accompanied by Paul, set forth toward the grand castle. Cinderella, overwhelmed by her sudden change in fortune, struggles to find words.
Hunt for the Killer of the Royal Hairdresser Begins
However, their journey takes a sinister turn as their carriage collides with an unexpected obstacle, running over a man named Mr. Hans, who happens to be the Royal Hairdresser. Fear and panic grip the duo as Cinderella identifies the lifeless state of Mr. Hans, prompting Red Riding Hood to confirm his demise.
Yet, Red Riding Hood’s keen eye notices an unusual amount of mud on the heels of the deceased, suggesting that he was dragged before the collision. She deduces that Mr. Hans met his end prior to their encounter, and the killer employed this tactic to deflect suspicion. In a hurried decision, they resolve to conceal the body and press on to the ball as Cinderella deserves her chance at happiness, free from undeserved blame.
Amid the enchanting ball, Cinderella revels in her newfound anonymity, with her stepmother and Anne oblivious to her transformed identity, each vying for Prince Gilbert’s attention. Margot’s conspicuous absence raises suspicion. The arrival of the King and Prince prompts a joyous dance with Cinderella. Unfortunately, before the Prince can select a bride, a soldier’s grim announcement halts the festivities.
The discovery of Mr. Hans’ lifeless body demands immediate attention. The King orders a thorough inspection of every carriage for bloodstains, but Paul, their resourceful chauffeur, expertly conceals the evidence. Anticipating a murder accusation, Cinderella is gripped by fear yet Red Riding Hood urges her to remain composed and vigilant.
The Chamberlain’s revelation offers a crucial twist – the wound predates the hoof mark – further establishing Red Riding Hood’s deduction that Mr. Hans’ murder occurred prior to the carriage incident. Further intrigue surfaces at Mr. Hans’ residence, as a bloodied whetstone is recovered and locks of beautiful hair suggest a disturbing obsession. The Chamberlain theorizes that the killer is among five women, including Anne, who received a haircut from Mr. Hans before the ball.
Red Riding Hood Wears the Detective Hat
Red Riding Hood disputes this theory, highlighting the airlocks’ adorned ribbons, inconsistent with customary haircuts. At this point, to support Red Riding Hood’s theory Anne recalls her appointment, disclosing details about her appointment with Mr. Hans. Upon being told by Mr. Hans that the prince likes girls with short hair, Anne decides to cut her beautiful long hair, driven by a desire to impress Prince Gilbert.
The Prince admits that he has heard of such a rumor but it’s just a false narrative that Mr. Hans the hairdresser has been using for his gains. Prince exclaims that he wasn’t able to refute the rumor as Hans has been blackmailing him about his relationship with the maidservant, Remi, who has disappeared suddenly.
When the shadow of doubt falls upon Prince Gilbert, the prince presents an alibi. However, the alibi falls short, as no witness can corroborate his whereabouts. Eventually, Gilbert is arrested, but a poor beggar’s testimony that she had seen Gilbert on the hill during the suggested time period saved the prince. Although the testimony is met with skepticism, given the woman’s ragged appearance, Red Riding Hood insists on heeding her words and points out a thorn in her dress that could only originate from the hill.
Red Riding Hood helps clear the suspicion from Prince Gilbert, initiating the search for the true culprit. The elusive murderer remains at large, and the King permits the attendees to depart. As midnight approaches, Red Riding Hood and Cinderella, aware of the magic’s impending end, make a hasty escape.
Once Upon a Crime Ending Explained
Cinderella inadvertently leaves one of her glass slippers behind while escaping Prince Gilbert’s pursuit. Paul, the mouse-turned-chauffeur, ushers them to safety, but the enchantment wanes. They retreat to Cinderella’s home, settling in for the night. During the quiet hours, Red Riding Hood is stirred by a disturbance outside. Investigating, she encounters Margot, visibly fatigued and fleeing from pursuing soldiers.
Margot’s narrative slowly unfolds and the reason behind her absence from the ball comes forth. It is revealed that Mr. Hans lured Margot with a letter, prompting her to visit him. However, upon arrival, she was struck from behind and she lost consciousness. On gaining consciousness later, she found herself holding a bloody whetstone and lying beside the lifeless hairdresser.
Fearing she might be the murderer, Margot panicked, dragged the body, and placed it in Red Riding Hood’s carriage’s path. With her plans for the ball shattered, Margot wandered aimlessly until she encountered the soldiers. Margot ran for her life until she reached Red Riding Hood’s house.
At last, the soldiers finally arrive and eventually arrest Margot in front of Red Riding Hood. The Chamberlain acknowledges Red Riding Hood’s role in extracting Margot’s confession, but Red Riding Hood remains skeptical. Margot’s fragmented memory and the presence of an unknown attacker cast doubts about Margot’s culpability. Finally, a pivotal discovery for Red Riding Hood comes in the form of a shattered fragment of a glass slipper that falls from Margot’s hair, giving way to identity of the real killer.
Red Riding Hood Discovers the Real Killer of Hans
In Once Upon a Crime’s ending, Red Riding Hood unveils the shocking truth – Cinderella, her friend and the supposed fairy tale heroine – was the actual perpetrator of the heinous murder and the mastermind behind a cunning cover-up.
On the fateful afternoon of the grand ball, Cinderella yearned for beauty, a coveted attribute in the beauty-obsessed realm. Mr. Hans, the enigmatic hairdresser, entered the scene, tempting Cinderella with an offer to adorn her hair and transform her into a vision of loveliness. Succumbing to the allure of beauty, Cinderella decided to accept the offer.
As she ventured to Mr. Hans’ abode, his hidden jealousy manifested. Hans, consumed by envy, attempted to sever Cinderella’s hair without her consent. Responding to his intentions, Cinderella, driven to preserve her cherished tresses, wielded Hans’ whetstone as a weapon, bringing about his untimely demise. Consequently, a devious plan formalized in her mind – to stage the murder as Margot’s doing.
Cinderella lured Margot to the scene, incapacitated her, and then fled the scene, leaving behind a fabricated crime scene to implicate Margot. However, when Red Riding Hood saw the shattered piece of the glass slipper falling from Margot’s hair, she was able to join the pieces and identify Cinderella as the culprit.
How Was Cinderella Caught by Red Riding Hood?
It turns out, on the afternoon of the crime, before her encounter with Hans, Cinderella had sought out Tekla and obtained a pair of magical glass slippers, concealed from view. When she committed the gruesome act of killing Mr. Hans, Cinderella wore these very shoes – a crucial detail. When Cinderella struck Margot a second time with her slipper to make her unconscious, the impact caused one of the glass slipper heels to shatter, leaving behind a crucial piece of evidence
Later, when Tekla encounters Cinderella in the forest with Red Riding Hood, she fails to recognize her as the same person she had met earlier. Barbara’s transformative magic had rendered Cinderella’s appearance indistinguishable from that of a princess. Eventually, when Tekla gave Cinderella another pair of slippers, she came to possess not one but two pairs of glass slippers – one she wore during the murder and the other during the ball. When the first slipper got chipped, she buried it in the grave of her beloved pigeon.
The chipped slipper was later retrieved and the glass shard perfectly matched the slipper. When Cinderella accidentally ended up wearing the right-foot slipper of the pair that belonged to the murderer, her guilt was proven since the slipper would fit only the original owner. In addition to her gruesome crime, Cinderella had masterminded an elaborate cover-up, seeking to shift blame onto innocent parties.
Initially, Cinderella continues to deny the allegations, but when her first pair of glass slippers revert to their original form after 24 hours, it is proven that the slippers indeed belonged to Cinderella. Cinderella finally confesses to her heinous deeds. Her plea for acceptance from Prince Gilbert falls on deaf ears, as he refuses to offer solace to a cold-blooded murderer. As the guards lead her away, justice finally prevails in the fairy tale world.
Red Riding Hood Uncovers Another Shocking Mystery
Just in time, Red Riding Hood unravels another mystery – Remi (Mizuki Yamamoto), Prince Gilbert’s lover, is the disheveled woman, who gave a testimony in favor of the prince. Their passionate romance had thrived a year prior, until Mr. Hans cruelly extended an invitation to Remi, motivated by his sinister jealousy. In an attempt to sever her enchanting long locks, Hans had subjected Remi to a harrowing ordeal, leaving her scarred by the scissors’ ruthless edge.
Remi managed to narrowly escape the clutches of disaster, but the scar etched upon her cheeks, a mark of her resilience, left her feeling unworthy. Consumed by the belief that Prince Gilbert would spurn her due to this imperfection, Remi retreated from both him and society, concealing her true identity.
Yet, her heart remained steadfastly loyal, clandestinely observing Gilbert from the shadows. When Gilbert learns of the entire truth and reunites with Remi, he reaffirms his enduring love, declaring that her scar, or any other blemish, could never diminish his profound affection for her. In a heartwarming turn of events, Remi and Gilbert exchange vows, their union sealed with the benevolent blessing of King Bovell. Red Riding Hood graces the joyous occasion with her presence, witnessing the triumphant reunion of true love.
In the end, ready to embark on further adventures, the young detective finally departs to unravel mysteries woven into other fairy tales.
Once Upon a Crime is now streaming on Netflix.
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