Dolls

A kind, artistic toy-maker and co-owner of the Hartwicke mansion. She welcomes Judy and treats the magical world of dolls as a genuine, heartening part of childhood. Her gentle guidance contrasts with the harsher attitudes of the other adults, framing imagination as a path to safety and understanding.

Judy's neglectful and skeptical father who refuses to believe his daughter. He treats the supernatural events as nonsense and becomes a casualty of the mansion’s test when his stubbornness leads him to ignore the truth. His arc culminates in a startling transformation that marks him as one of the rejected by the house.

A petty thief who travels with Enid and joins Ralph in attempting to rob the mansion. Her cunning is outmatched by the living dolls, and her fate becomes uncertain after she is attacked in the hallway and dragged into darkness. Her arc highlights how greed and deceit are judged by the house.

The central child protagonist who believes in Mr. Punch and the magic of the dolls. She embodies trust, resilience, and a hopeful bond with Ralph, guiding others toward recognizing the value of childhood. Her courage helps steer the events toward a possible escape and renewal.

A hitchhiker who travels with Isabel, initially part of the group that plans theft. Enid is ultimately dragged into the dolls’ ritual and is found transformed in the attic, underscoring the peril that awaits those who resist the mansion’s moral test.

A magician and toy-maker co-owner of the mansion. He and his wife believe toys are the heart of childhood and use their workshop as a test ground for visitors. Gabriel explains the house’s philosophy and preserves a hopeful view of childhood through magical illusion.

An American businessman who travels with Isabel and Enid. He is initially skeptical but grows to appreciate the power of childhood joy, forming a genuine bond with Judy. Ralph's compassionate nature helps him survive the night and envision a future where Judy’s family can thrive.

Judy's stepmother and David's partner, who is cruel and dismissive toward Judy. She is implicated in the tension surrounding Teddy and meets a fatal end when she falls from a window while fleeing danger.