My quick rating - 5.2/10. There’s a very specific feel Forbidden Fruits is going for, and to its credit, it commits to it. Even if it sometimes feels like it’s more interested in being cool than actually being, you know, entertaining.
Right out of the gate, the film sets the tone with a radio-dial intro, landing us in full Shudder territory before introducing Apple (Lili Reinhart), who casually manipulates a guy in a parking lot like it’s just another Tuesday. Subtle? Not even slightly. But it does immediately tell you what kind of world you’re stepping into. One where the Free Eden girls rule the mall like it’s their own slightly cursed kingdom.
Apple, along with Cherry (Victoria Pedretti) and Fig (Alexandra Shipp), runs a secret witchy femme cult out of a mall. Of course they do. It’s giving The Craft with a heavy splash of Heathers, and yeah…I could feel those influences in basically every frame. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it feels like the movie is one sarcastic monologue away from just admitting it has both films on speed dial.
The dynamic gets shaken up when new hire Pumpkin (Lola Tung) enters the mix, immediately calling out the group’s performative “we’re all sisters” energy - which, let’s be honest, had red flags all over it from the start. There’s also the legend of Pickle (yes, Pickle), the mysterious fourth member who’s no longer around, complete with a whole “Ballad of Pickle” detour that feels like the film daring you to stay invested.
And here’s the thing. For a solid chunk of its 103-minute runtime, Forbidden Fruits is all buildup. A lot of attitude, a lot of aesthetic, a lot of “look how edgy we are”…and not a whole lot actually happening. You’ll start to feel it creeping in. That little voice in your head going, “Are we going somewhere with this?”
Then, almost on cue, something finally does happen.
The third act kicks in like the movie suddenly remembered it promised horror, delivering a blood-soaked payoff that includes, of all things, a weaponized escalator. Yes, really. And honestly? It works. The kills are creative, the tone fully dives into dark comedy absurdity, and there’s even a twist that doesn’t feel like it was pulled out of a clearance bin. It gives the film a bit of meaning and, shockingly, sticks the landing better than expected.
Bonus points for dodging the typical Hollywood ending, too. It doesn’t go where you think it will, which is refreshing in a genre that often plays it safe.
That said, you can’t overlook the amount of time it takes to get there. Act one and two feel like an extended hangout that doesn’t know when to leave, but not all viewers will be willing to sit through that long for the reward. If you appreciate a good dose of '80s mall culture, however, then this might work for you.
And just when you think it’s all over, the post-credit scene reveals Sharon (Gabrielle Union), because apparently, this mall has more secrets to spill.
In the end, Forbidden Fruits isn’t terrible. It’s just uneven. More dark comedy than horror, more vibe than substance for the most part. But when it finally decides to bite, it at least leaves a mark.
https://jackmeat.com/forbidden-fruits-2026/
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