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If your FYP is anything like ours, it’s full of Zepotha content at the moment.
From nostalgic fan videos about the film to new theories and even discussions of a sequel and the original books, Zepotha is all the rage right now and you might be wondering why.
Well, TikTok loves a good inside joke (as evidenced by things like the KSI chair meme), and as we approach the middle of August, it seems that THE inside joke of the summer has been chosen: none other than nostalgia fuelled content about the cult classic 80s horror film Zepotha.
The only problem?
Zepotha is not a real movie.
Read on for a guide to the Zepotha TikTok trend which includes an overview of Zepotha characters, how the Zepotha trend started and most importantly THE original Zepotha TikTok video.
What is Zepotha?
If TikTok is to be believed, Zepotha is a horror film that was released in 1987, starring a lengthy group of characters including Alaine, Maxine, and many many others.
Based on all the fan content about it, we’d assume it has similar vibes to Stranger Things.
With so many videos talking about how Zepotha was their childhood favourite, or how certain scenes from Zepotha scarred them, or how some Tiktokers look JUST like the films main characters, it’s hard to believe that Zepotha isn’t actually… real.
But it isn’t! It’s all made up. And here’s how it happened.
How Did the Zepotha Trend Start on TikTok?
Unlike other TikTok trends which usually have cloudy origins, the Zepotha Trend can EASILY be traced to one creator: @emilyjeffri who started the Zepotha movement with this TikTok posted two days ago.
In this original video, there’s a call to “create a fake 80s horror movie called ‘Zepotha'” and to “[start] commenting ‘omg you look EXACTLY like that one girl from Zepotha’ or ‘wait u look exactly like _____ from Zepotha’ on every thirst trap we see”, with a goal of together “[witnessing] new lore develop, main characters will emerge, etc. & we can convince thousands of people that this weirdly titled 80s horror film actually exists”.
… and it’s safe to say that the TikTok community has achieved this goal.
Since posting this original Zepotha TikTok, it has garnered almost 5 million views with thousands of Zepotha related TikToks flooding the app over the weekend.
Even celebrities are getting on the trend, like Maria Canals-Barrera, who famously played the mom in Wizards of Waverly Place. She plays along, saying she remembers the movie and thinks her daughter looks like Alaine.
As the Zepotha trend grows, many users have drawn parallels to Goncharov 1973, the fictional gangster film that Tumblr users created as an inside joke a few years back.
So, What Do We Know About Zepotha?
With thousands of videos and comments popping up about Zepotha every hour, keeping up with every supposed scene, plot line and character is next to impossible, but here are some of the general things we do know for sure.
Zepotha is said to be a cult horror film from the 80s.
The #1 character we see referenced is Alaine.
Other established characters include Maxine, Robbie, Sophie, Rita, Cole, Nate, Danny and Vincent. They’ve all been part of scenes referenced by TikTokers, including THE basement scene, but also THE rollercoaster scene, and THE garden scene.
… but the beautiful thing about the Zepotha TikTok trend is that new lore is constantly being adopted, so you could literally discuss any character or element of the story you want, and people will probably play along.
This TikTok which has gotten over a million views establishes many characters’ aesthetic.
There’s now even a “Which Zepotha character are you?” Filter here.
How to Participate in the Zepotha TikTok Trend
Want to get it on in the Zepotha TikTok trend ASAP? It couldn’t be easier. Here are some of the ways you can participate:
- Comment on random people’s videos “omg you look just like ____ from Zepotha”
- Comment on Zepotha videos with your own opinions, saying which characters and scenes are over/underrated
- Making your own TikToks about Zepotha
The Truth About the Zepotha TikTok Trend
As nice as it would be to think that Zepotha was a purely random and silly TikTok trend, there’s compelling evidence that the whole thing is actually just a genius marketing ploy.
For what exactly? The very music being used in the original Zepotha TikTok posted by @emilyjeffri! A quick look at Jeffri’s bio reveals the following: “independent artist, 18” and an upcoming album drop.
As some TikTokers have noted (like in this video), the original Zepotha TikTok isn’t the first attempt that @emilyjeffri has made at sneakily promoting original music.
And given that the new album “SOUNDTRACK FOR AN 80S HORROR MOVIE” is being released on August 25, the evidence is pretty compelling that the entire Zepotha trend really is just promotional genius.
… but hey, credit to @emilyjeffri. If Zepotha is indeed just a clever marketing ploy, then it’s working. The sound has over 9000 videos and counting as of Monday morning, not a bad increase over a single weekend.
So, credit where credit’s due. Check out Emily Jeffri’s Spotify page here. We’ve been jamming out to it while writing this article.
How to Watch Zepotha (1987)
Well if you’ve made it this far, I’m hoping you know the answer is… you can’t. It’s not a real movie……. Yet!
Stranger things have of course come out of TikTok, like the Ratatouille Musical which went on to be performed by actual theatre legends or the Bridgerton Musical which went on to become a Grammy Award winning concept album.
So, with spooky season coming up, who knows… maybe Zepotha will become a real movie after all?
Or (if we’re playing along with the joke), maybe 2023 is finally the year for the long awaited remake of cult classic 80s horror film, Zepotha.
We hope you enjoyed this guide to the Zepotha TikTok Trend!
Be sure to check out our guide to current trends on TikTok for more.