Mall Witches Take Over in “Forbidden Fruits”

“Forbidden Fruits” brings witchcraft, mall culture, and satire together in a horror-comedy about a secret coven hiding inside a boutique store. The film is directed by Meredith Alloway and adapts Lily Houghton’s play, with a story centered on witches disguised as retail employees who recruit a new member named Pumpkin.

The cast includes Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, Emma Chamberlain, and Gabrielle Union. The film premiered at SXSW in March 2026, reached U.S. theaters on March 27, and moved to VOD on April 28, with Shudder listed for June 26.

The setup is very current: occult sisterhood, declining mall space, workplace weirdness, and the kind of “empowerment” language that can get creepy fast when the people saying it are secretly running a witch cult. It is a good lane for horror-comedy because malls already have that dead commercial afterlife energy. Empty storefronts, fake lighting, over-scented shops, and a cult in the back room? Sure. That tracks.

Early response is mixed, with Decider pointing to strong performances but criticizing the film’s uneven tone and focus. Still, “Forbidden Fruits” has enough cast recognition and strange-girl horror branding to stay in the conversation, especially once Shudder viewers get their hands on it in June.