In the pop-horror comedy ‘Forbidden Fruits,’ Texas mall rats are secretly witches

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Meredith Alloway’s first film, “Forbidden Fruits,” clearly shows her love for classic 1990s teen movies and the fun, often fleeting, pop culture trends of the time. Co-written with Lily Houghton and adapted from Houghton’s play, the film blends elements of movies like “The Craft,” “Mean Girls,” and “Clueless.” It’s about a group of competitive witches who all work together at a store in a Texas mall.

However, in “Forbidden Fruits,” it’s difficult to avoid the impression that Alloway simply relies on well-known movie tropes—recognizable images and references—without offering much that’s new or insightful.

A group of friends – known as the Fruits because they’re all named after fruits – dramatically enter the mall food court, immediately establishing their presence. Led by the controlling Apple (Lili Reinhart), the group includes the edgy Fig (Alexandra Shipp) and the stereotypical Cherry (Victoria Pedretti). When they meet Pumpkin (Lola Tung), a new employee who also has a fruit-related name, they quickly include her in their group, seemingly just to maintain their theme.

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I already knew this actor from “The Haunting of Hill House,” and I was really impressed with how different he was in “Forbidden Fruits!” It’s a really fun, over-the-top horror-comedy, and I heard it was written by Diablo Cody, which makes total sense given the vibe.

Apple leads a group of women, her ‘coven,’ out of her shop, Free Eden, focusing on celebrating famous female figures. They share secrets and personal struggles, imagining they’re speaking to Marilyn Monroe in a private space, and engage in ritualistic practices involving personal items like lingerie and a silver boot. To foster support and empowerment among the group, Apple also implements rules inspired by Ann Lee and the Shakers, including abstaining from sex and relationships and maintaining strict communication guidelines.

Things really get complicated when Pumpkin begins to learn the coven’s secrets, like the story of a past member named Pickle (played by Emma Chamberlain). This reveals a messy past filled with spells, betrayals, and complicated relationships, ultimately leading to a chaotic showdown – a literal climax during a tornado.

Director Alloway and cinematographer Karim Hussain created a very specific visual style for the film. It’s intentionally artificial and somewhat hazy, which fits the movie’s playful and knowing attitude. However, this dreamlike quality doesn’t quite mesh with all the typical elements of the genre.

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Though the actors, especially Madelaine Reinhart and Emma Pedretti, fully commit to their characters – with Reinhart convincingly portraying the necessary intensity – the movie “Forbidden Fruits” feels strangely sluggish. It’s too long by at least twenty minutes and suffers from a complicated plot with too many twists, ultimately lacking a strong sense of forward movement.

Honestly, while the movie had potential, the editing felt a little clunky and could have really punched things up. The story itself was a bit of a mess – it dragged in places and then felt incredibly hurried. As a horror fan, I was hoping for more genuine scares, but it leaned more into psychological tension. Sadly, even a really intense climax with a big reveal couldn’t quite rescue it for me; it just felt too little, too late.

The film clearly originated as a stage play, especially during lengthy, introspective scenes delivered by the character Marilyn. Actress Pedretti skillfully shows there’s more to Cherry than just a bubbly personality. While these moments feel rooted in the play’s origins, the director Alloway adds a playful, pop-art style that, while clever, ultimately undermines the scenes’ emotional power.

“Forbidden Fruits” tries to blend a lot of different styles, but ultimately feels like a surface-level mix of references. It’s trendy and visually appealing, but lacks the depth to be truly memorable – think of it as the pop music equivalent of fast fashion.

Katie Walsh is a Tribune News Service film critic.

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2026-03-26 22:01