In Takahisa Zeze’s “Cry Out,” a young girl (Nanami Yamazaki, left) endures multiple hardships following her father’s death, while her former elementary school teacher (Yuina Kuroshima) tries to help. | © 2026 ‘Cry Out’ Film Partners © Kanae Minato / Futabasha

Misery and mystery are close companions in the fictions of Kanae Minato. Her 2008 debut novel, “ Confessions ” — memorably adapted by filmmaker Tetsuya Nakashima — was a prime example of what’s known in Japanese as iyamisu , a portmanteau combining the words for unpleasant ( iya ) and mystery, the author’s genre of choice.

It’s a formula that Minato has returned to frequently. 2018’s “Mirai” (“Future”) employed a typical constellation of calamity, including child abuse, forced prostitution and incest.…