‘Forbidden Fruits’ Cast and Crew on Conjuring a Coven for the Genre-Bender

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The new movie, Forbidden Fruits, is a unique blend of familiar and fresh. It centers around a group of women who use supernatural abilities to overcome their obstacles, a premise that calls to mind classic films in the genre. However, director Meredith Alloway masterfully combines these elements in a way that feels surprisingly original. The movie strongly evokes the spirit of 1990s films like The Craft, Clueless, and Mallrats, but it avoids simply copying them, creating something entirely its own.

In a recent interview with MovieWeb, director Alloway shared what she wanted to do differently from previous films in the series.

I’m a big fan of movies set in malls, and I wanted this film to capture that same feeling. It struck me that malls stay brightly lit all night, even when nobody’s there – it’s a real waste of energy. That idea became a key visual inspiration. I wanted the movie to feel strangely bright and unsettling, not dark and scary, so we really leaned into that unnerving brightness.

The filmmakers didn’t lose the film’s unsettling atmosphere while creating its unique style. As Alloway explained, they drew inspiration from glamorous, eerie Italian Giallo films like Blood and Black Lace, which blended suspense with a feminine aesthetic. Working with cinematographer Karim Hussain, they also studied the work of Mario Bava, but combined it with the chaotic energy of teenage girls at the mall. Alloway believes this combination of influences created a visually distinct and fresh look.

The connection between the actresses – Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Lola Tung – was just as important to the film as the overall mood it created. Reinhart, who was the first to sign on to play Apple and lead the group, emphasized that the movie’s success wasn’t just about how they interacted on screen, but about the entire team working together to make it happen.

From the very beginning, after speaking with our writer, Lily Houghton, and then Meredith, who directed and wrote the film, I had a clear vision for how we’d portray Apple. It seemed to align perfectly with what they wanted. It felt like everyone involved – us and the Apple team – had a strong idea of the characters, and they embraced our interpretations. I especially enjoyed seeing the project come together as each person joined, and our shared vision for the movie really took shape.

With each actress joining the project, the energy grew, and I realized it was going to be a fantastic shoot. I’m a huge admirer of all of them, and I could already envision how brilliantly they would each embody their characters.

Reinhart was likely the first member of the group, but Alloway found it hardest to find someone for a specific role. The director admitted:

The character of Pickle originally had very few lines in the script. I have to give Lily Houghton credit for even suggesting the name! At first, I thought it was too much, but then I realized it was actually pretty funny. Pickle started as a minor character, but we quickly realized we needed to expand their role. It helped create a sense of unease and foreshadowing, hinting that one of the characters might be in real danger.

I really wanted to find someone unexpected for the role – not a typical actress, but maybe a musician or someone known for something else, because the character, Pickle, is an outsider. Emma Chamberlain’s name came up, and honestly, I didn’t think she’d be interested. I thought she’d be amazing, but way out of reach. Then we met her, and it was clear she was exactly who we needed.

The actors all brought their personal backgrounds to the project, even though they hadn’t necessarily lived the experience of hanging out in shopping malls. Tung explained she didn’t grow up with mall culture, having been raised in New York City, but found the idea fascinating. She’d always seen malls in movies and thought they looked amazing, and she enjoyed learning about it while filming, spending countless nights at the mall for the project.

Shipp brought a lot of personal experience to the role, explaining, “I really connected with the mall setting. Growing up in Arizona, malls were a popular place to hang out because there wasn’t much else to do indoors, especially when it was hot. We didn’t have a lot of money, but we’d still spend time walking around the mall.”

It’s refreshing that Forbidden Fruits is a completely new story, rather than a remake or adaptation of existing material, especially in 2026. However, Alloway does have some classic films she’d love to reimagine. She mentioned trying to remake Chopping Mall, but couldn’t secure the rights, saying, “I really love Chopping Mall.”

Another idea she has is for something far more disturbing:

I’m a big fan of the 1980 film The Changeling, starring George C. Scott – it’s a really underrated movie! I recently bought it on Blu-ray as I’m starting to collect physical copies of films. I think it deserves to be rediscovered, as it’s one of the most genuinely creepy and unsettling movies I’ve ever watched. I’d love the opportunity to work on a project related to it – the atmosphere is incredible, and even though I’m scared of ghosts, I find that world fascinating.

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2026-03-26 20:54