This 2026 Horror Fantasy Is a Cult Classic Movie in the Making

1 week ago 8

Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp in Forbidden Fruits

Published Apr 6, 2026, 1:14 PM EDT

Josie Meléndez is a multi-hyphenate Puerto Rican creative. With a BA in English Literature from the University of Puerto Rico and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design, she is the founder of the Film Posers podcast. Previously named an emerging content creator by NALIP and an emerging journalist by TIFF, her work can be read in multiple publications such as The Cherry Picks, Elle Magazine, Them, El Nuevo Día, TodasPR, Sundance Institute, and more. She is the author of Gotas de amor, her debut poetry collection.

Cult classics survive on tooth and nail from the outskirts of pop culture. They're granted a rightful spot in the hall of fame once they've proven their worth to their selective masses, sometimes taking years before reaching the aforementioned status. But there are times you can spot a cult classic in the making from a mile away. Forbidden Fruits is one of those shining exceptions with her trendy water bottle and overpriced lingerie outerwear.

Lili Reinhart Is a New Kind of Mean Girl

Lili Reinhart as Apple in Forbidden Fruits

Forbidden Fruits is an adaptation of Houghton's stage play titled Of the Woman Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die. It follows a group of women who work at a Free Eden store by day, but, by night, they perform spells and hexes in the store's dressing room. A lovely little Easter egg in this film is in the third act when Lili Reinhart as Apple wears a white baby tee with the play's title. When asked about the film and her first conversations with Houghton, Alloway described the project as "Mean Girls, but a slasher." American Psycho is also cited as a touchstone, as there's a common thread of loss of individual identity, in this case, for the sake of community. It pushes forward the agenda of gaslight, gatekeep, and girlboss. Regardless of whether their motivations as individuals are wrong, they genuinely believe they are in the right. Starring Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain, and Gabrielle Union, the film’s success lies in its honesty and specificity.

Films for and about women tend to be easily dismissed, and rarely are they allowed to be flawed, chastised for their shortcomings. The case can be made even for a recognizable project such as 2009's Jennifer's Body. Written by Diablo Cody, who also acted as a producer for Forbidden Fruits, the demonic man-eating flick was dubbed a cult classic retrospectively. Critics eviscerated it upon its release. Now, on the other hand, when it came to critical and audience reception for the mall-coven horror, both sides of the coin agreed that it was an entertaining venture.

Victoria Pedretti Casts a Spell on You in New ‘Forbidden Fruits’ Image [Exclusive]

A mix of slasher, witchy vibes, and Mean Girls-inspired comedy awaits in 'Forbidden Fruits.'

'Forbidden Fruits' Thrives on Campy Realness

In a world of reboots and sequels, originality is worth millions. With all its clever metaphors and up-to-date knowledge of trend culture, Forbidden Fruits dares to offer up a slow-burn horror haunt that oftentimes feels like psychological warfare. Relying on campy humor, it oozes personality from its shrunken pores. The details make it unforgettable. Each character becomes a distinct representation of feminine iconography and aesthetic worship. The four main girls represent a season, quirkily named Apple (Reinhart), Cherry (Pedretti), Fig (Shipp), and Pumpkin (Tung), which they endearingly link to the retail season. They worship the spirit of Marilyn Monroe, anointing her the ultimate feminine martyr, uncontrolled by man, and confess their sins to her. Apple is a metaphoric representation of Lilith, even having her name on her license plate. And they get high from plastic sequence, succumbing to the ecstasy of the placebo.

Despite its unique narrative, the story’s plot feels universal as it lends itself to common horror tropes, such as an atmospheric event like a storm, the group splits up, phones not working, and an isolated setting. It amplifies the absurd to an extent that may seem unrealistic, but it thrives in its accuracy of the toxicity of “girl’s girl” culture when pursued in ill faith. The best part is that the horror creeps up on you. It's not until the second half of the movie that the actions of these characters take on serious consequences. Matters go south quickly with multiple murders. While fans of traditional slashers may grow weary waiting for a kill, its slow-burn fate is ultimately what makes the film unforgettable. Add to this an interwoven frankness within the threads that make it up, borrowing from common themes like revenge, grief, and intergenerational trauma. While it may seem a superficial piece at first, Forbidden Fruits transcends what's on the surface and goes deeper to reveal something that's almost mythological in nature. It highlights the cruelty of susceptible, performative girlhood.

Through all of these ingredients, Forbidden Fruits joins a long legacy of projects that are more than meets the eye. Beyond the shallow interest in clothes, online witch trends, and secret hookups, the film pushes boundaries by moving the story forward into an insane third act that dares to lend itself to a harrowing parade of violence. With its individual peculiarities, distinctive vocabulary, tonal shifts, and unique aesthetic, it combines to illustrate an instant cult classic status through its relatability and longevity.