Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Meredith Alloway Talks Building Forbidden Fruits, the Mall-Set Witchy Slasher Courting Cult Status

The director describes using genre to explore messy female friendships.

Overview

  • In a new interview, Alloway explains why she adapted Lily Houghton’s stage play into a campy slasher set in a Dallas mall clothing store.
  • She says horror gave her a tool to show how close female bonds can feel violent, chaotic, messy, joyful, and deeply felt.
  • Alloway kept the play’s heightened language with guidance from producer Diablo Cody and cast Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Alexandra Shipp, and Victoria Pedretti to land the satire.
  • She worked with the actors on costumes and makeup as armor for identity, asking them to build Pinterest boards and share ideas throughout prep.
  • Coverage frames the movie as a blend of slasher, witchy style, and Mean Girls-like comedy, with praise for design and performances and debate over a sharp late tonal shift.