We’ve been informed that the reason the indie horror movie Zepotha isn’t found on the internet is because it “only exists on DVD and VHS.”
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Have you been scrolling through TikTok in the past 24 hours? Of course, you have. If that’s what’s going on, odds are you’re already familiar with Tiktok’s favorite film, Zepotha. Whether it’s your go-to content creator or a random face in your FYP, everyone’s comment sections are flooded with “You really look like that character in Zepotha” and “I’m glad Zepotha is finally getting recognition it deserves.”
The real question (well, questions): What is Zepotha? Who are all these characters? And why can’t people suddenly stop talking about it? Basically, Zepotha is a horror film from the ’80s with the mother of plot twists: it never even existed.
All About Tiktok’s Favorite Film
@emilyjeffri putting this song forward as the movie’s main theme, i think it has zepotha vibes tbh #80s #nostalgia #horror #horrormovie #80shorror #bit #trickster #moohaha #newmusic #queerartist #spooky #zepotha ♬ DO YOU REMEMBER ME – jeffri
The truth is, Zepotha was the brainchild of an 18-year-old musician and content creator, Emily Jeffri. Just over the weekend, this ingenious mastermind shared a post proposing ‘Zepotha’ and actually getting the entirety of Tiktok believe in its existence.
“OK, so new bit idea: What if we created a fake 80s horror movie called ‘Zepotha’ and started commenting ‘OMG, you look EXACTLY like that one girl from Zepotha’ or ‘Wait, you look exactly like ______ from Zepotha’ on every thirst trap we see,” she wrote. “Together we will witness new lore develop, main characters will emerge, etc., and we can convince thousands of people that this weirdly titled 80s horror film actually exists.”
Even Alex Russo’s Mom is Totally in on The Ruse
@mariacanals_barrera #zepotha 80s horror nightmares! #alaine #spooky #80s #horrormovies ♬ DO YOU REMEMBER ME – jeffri
To say the plan successfully worked would be an understatement. In just a few days, the trend has already amassed 148.5 million views. To top it all off, a quick TikTok search for ‘Zepotha’ uncovers viral videos where the community either decodes the fake film or eagerly joins the bandwagon. And now, you’ve got Zepotha filters, Zepotha montages, and even Zepotha VHS tapes. After the Zepotha official poster, what’s next? Merch?
And as if that wasn’t enough, TikTok introduced new characters to the lore, such as Alaine, Danny, Emma, Maxine, Rita, and Michael. Let’s not forget there are also countless scenes that grabbed attention and garnered applause. ICYDK, the iconic forest scene was hailed as “a standout moment in cinematic history.”
Even Alex Russo’s mom has hopped on the hype. Wizards of Waverly Place fans will be pleased to know that Maria Canals-Barrera posted a Tiktok explaining how she recalls Zepotha from its initial release. Aside from comparing Zepotha to 80s classics, the actress showed her daughter, who looks like ‘Alaine’—you know, to totally sell the story.
It was all a lie? No.
@nogood.io the bridge scene though 😭 #zepotha #80smovies #cultclassic #slasherfilm #horrormovies #explained #zepothabridgescene ♬ DO YOU REMEMBER ME – jeffri
Here’s the thing: the fake film isn’t entirely fake. The music playing in the background of Emily’s horror movie is an actual song, DO YOU REMEMBER ME. Yep, it’s her own track taken from her soon-to-drop album SOUNDTRACK FOR AN 80’S HORROR MOVIE, and it’s coming real soon, August 25 to be exact.
So… The summer slasher ends as a mere marketing ploy. For what it’s worth, Zepotha proves that Emily Jeffri is an actual genius. If this isn’t one of the biggest music marketing this year after Barbie, then IDK.
Next Stop, Movie Screens?
@rllyroman Zepotha is definitely my favourite Summer Slasher || #zepotha #zepothaedit #zepothamovie #edit #horror #horrortok #horroredit ♬ original sound – roman
Alright, let’s pause for a sec. We’re definitely giving props to the sheer craziness of the social media community. Imagine how the internet pulls some serious buzz out of thin air. It’s interesting to watch something morph into a massive trend right from an out-of-the-blue idea.
And at this point, I know we’re all lowkey invested in Zepotha turning to reality. I mean, there’s an actual plot, character roster, an ‘official’ teaser, and a soundtrack! Seriously, film producers should start taking notes. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they somehow create a real-life Maxine.
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