Title:
Viral TikTok Film Zepotha Sparks Craze, but Faces Backlash and Controversy
News Body:
After making a monumental resurgence on TikTok in recent weeks, the 1987 horror film Zepotha has captured the imagination of fans, solidifying its status as a cult classic. Users on the popular social media platform have been cosplaying as iconic characters, reacting to memorable scenes, creating fan edits, and even developing wild theories about its much-anticipated sequel. Nevertheless, there’s a catch – Zepotha doesn’t actually exist.
The fictitious nature of the film didn’t deter TikTok users, who wholeheartedly embraced the trend. It has become nearly impossible to scroll through the app without stumbling upon a comment comparing someone’s appearance to a character from Zepotha. Even major streaming platform Netflix joined in, tweeting about the striking resemblance between the character Eleven from Stranger Things and Jane from Zepotha. Actress Maria Canals-Barrera, known for her role in Wizards of Waverly Place, shared a TikTok video highlighting her daughter’s likeness to the character Alaine.
The online frenzy surrounding Zepotha extended to fan-generated content, including various edits, trailers for the fictional sequel, and even a fake eBay listing for supposedly rare VHS tapes of the non-existent film. Users enthusiastically embraced the non-existent plot, with some creating videos of the traumatizing forest and chainsaw scenes simply to confuse those who were not in on the joke.
Amidst the viral fake movie’s popularity, its creator, Emily, shared another TikTok video in which she proposed a short film competition to organize and restore order to the lore of Zepotha. She offered a £500 prize to the winner, whose film would become canon within the imaginary Zepotha universe.
However, Emily immediately received criticism for the proposed competition. Some users criticized the £500 reward as inadequate compensation for months of hard work, while others accused Emily of stealing the concept from Tumblr’s own version of a fictional film called Goncharov. Last year, Tumblr users created a massive fandom around the non-existent 1973 Martin Scorsese film, producing everything from movie posters to characters and even a theme song. Scorsese himself joined in the joke, claiming that he had made the film years ago.
Addressing the backlash, Emily shared another TikTok video clarifying that she could only afford to offer £500 as a young, independent artist. She emphasized that she had not anticipated the virality of Zepotha and insisted that the competition was simply a fun little competition with music promotion as the only potential gain for herself.
While the viral sensation of Zepotha on TikTok has generated controversy and divided opinions, it is a testament to the commitment and creativity of Gen Z users. Although the film may not actually exist, its imaginary world has captured the imagination of thousands, showcasing the power of social media trends and the fervent passion of horror fans.
