Forbidden Fruits
The brief
Meredith Alloway turns a dead mall into a surprisingly effective horror playground where Victoria Pedretti's unhinged energy anchors a cast that commits fully to the campy witchcraft premise. The film walks a tricky tightrope between social satire and genuine scares, mostly landing on its feet thanks to genuinely creepy basement sequences that feel claustrophobic and wrong. Lili Reinhart sheds her Riverdale sweetness completely here, delivering something darker and more interesting than her previous work. Perfect for anyone who loved The Love Witch's feminist horror mood or wished Suspiria had more millennial workplace anxiety.
The verdict
If you're drawn to campy feminist horror with genuine scares and don't mind some tonal wobbling between satire and terror, this dead mall witchcraft romp delivers committed performances and genuinely creepy basement sequences. If you prefer your horror strictly serious or can't tolerate workplace anxiety mixed with supernatural elements, the uneven tone and middling critical reception suggest you should look elsewhere.
Watch with
- 👥 Horror fans who appreciate feminist themes
- 👥 Perfect for a spooky night with the coven
- ⚠️ Skip if you're sensitive to occult themes
Heads up
- Graphic violence and blood (moderate)
- Occult/witchcraft themes throughout (frequent)
- Claustrophobic basement sequences (moderate)
- Psychological manipulation between characters (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Meredith Alloway
- Cast
- Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain, Gabrielle Union, Hailey Summer
Official synopsis
Free Eden employee Apple secretly runs a witchy femme cult in the basement of the mall store after hours –
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Rose (2026)
Both explore toxic female dynamics through horror and botanical symbolism.
Total runtime: 1h 43m + 1h 33m = 3h 16m
