When young Lili's mother dies in childbirth, her father remarries Lady Claudia, a woman ruled by an evil mirror with the power to make her queen of all living things. After escaping an attempt on her life, Lili finds herself lost in a dark forest, where living happily ever after seems unlikely.



In this dark take on the fairy tale, the growing hatred of a noblewoman, secretly a practitioner of the dark arts, for her stepdaughter, and the witch's horrifying attempts to kill her.




This movie is based somewhat more authentically on the Grimm Brothers' story of a young woman who is unliked by her stepmother. When young Lillian's mother dies during childbirth, her father soon remarries the well-intentioned Lady Claudia. However, Claudia's heart is ruled not by her husband, but by an evil mirror with the power to make Claudia Queen over all living things - until they are dead. A failed attempt to murder young Lillian leaves her wandering lost in a deep dark forest where she comes across seven ruffian gold miners. This movie takes place at the time of the Crusades, and depicts the attitudes of the wealthy and the peasant classes toward each other.
—BOB STEBBINS




Still unable to come to terms with the tragic and untimely death of her beloved mother seven years ago, the young orphan, Lilli Hoffman, finds it difficult to accept the decision of her wealthy landowner father, Lord Hoffman, to get married so soon to the superficial aristocrat, Lady Claudia. As nine more years pass by, nothing seems to appease the silent rivalry between the two women--and to further complicate matters--jealousy has turned into blind hatred. Now, the only place for Lilli to hide is in the bosom of the impenetrable forest; however, is there an escape when dark forces are at work?
—Nick Riganas




SYNOPSIS