Lili Reinhart’s R-Rated Horror About a Witch Cult Draws Respectable RT Score

Early reviews for Forbidden Fruits, starring Lili Reinhart, have given the R-rated horror film a respectable score on Rotten Tomatoes. The project, which follows a secretive, cult-like group operating within a mall, is beginning to gain attention as critics weigh in on it ahead of its release.

What critics are saying about Forbidden Fruits in reviews 

Forbidden Fruits combines horror and dark comedy within a story set around a group of retail workers who form a secretive, cult-like group. The story follows Apple, who leads the group alongside Cherry and Fig, as the group’s dynamic begins to shift with the arrival of a new employee, Pumpkin.

Critical responses to the film have been varied, with reviewers highlighting its themes, performances, and tone. Graeme Guttmann, writing for Screen Rant, described the film as “a distinctly modern take on female friendship,” while noting its strong influences from earlier genre movies. He added that “Forbidden Fruits is more of a good time than an incisive portrait of its thematic concerns,” concluding that “nuance has no home here.”

Writing for Loud and Clear, Bethany Lola highlighted the film’s final act as its strongest. She wrote, “The final 30 minutes are what put Forbidden Fruits on the map as a future feminist cult classic.” She continued, “All hell is let loose in the mall, finally, and we see a glimpse into what this group of women really are like when you break down their vulnerable layers and pit them against each other.” Lola also praised Lili Reinhart, stating that she “delivers her best performance yet.”

Meanwhile, Slant Magazine characterized the film as “a sort of unholy union of Mean Girls and The Craft.” The publication also noted that while its attempt to transition into full horror “doesn’t quite click,” it remains “pretty spellbinding.” 

Ross Bonaime of Collider wrote that the film “has all the elements that could make this worthy of being listed alongside its cult-classic influences,” but ultimately “feels incomplete, half-considered, and mostly a mess.” He added that the story “doesn’t quite know what it wants to say.”

Forbidden Fruits gets a strong score on Rotten Tomatoes

On Rotten Tomatoes, Forbidden Fruits currently holds a 76 percent score from critics based on 37 reviews. Its audience rating has not yet been released. However, these figures may change as additional reviews are submitted.

The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in the United States on March 27, 2026.

Source: Comingsoon.net