Zepotha
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About
Zepotha is a fake 80s horror movie created by TikToker @emilyjeffri. In mid-August 2023, the TikToker uploaded a video where she proposes the idea of the fake movie, asking viewers to comment under thirst traps on TikTok, "omg you look exactly like X from Zepotha," X being a fictional character from the film, to gaslight people into thinking it exists. The video went viral, inspiring videos, fan art and other fan content claiming Zepotha is real. The meme has been compared to other fake movie memes like Goncharov, with some Tumblr users accusing Zepotha of being a low-effort copycat of the trend.
Origin
On August 11th, 2023, TikToker[1] @emilyjeffri posted a selfie video sharing a long caption where she proposes that viewers pretend an 80s horror movie named Zepotha exists in order to spread a spam comment meme. In the caption, she asks viewers to start posting, "wait u look exactly like X from Zepotha," X being the TikToker, to try and make them think Zepotha is a real movie. The video gained over 5.1 million views in three days and is set to an original song by the TikToker, who goes by emily jeffri on Spotify.[2] The video is possibly a way for her to promote her upcoming album "SOUNDTRACK FOR AN 80’S HORROR MOVIE."
@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
ok so new bit idea: what if we created a fake 80s horror movie called 'Zepotha' & started commenting "omg u look EXACTLY like that one girl from Zepotha" of "wait u look exactly like ______ from Zepotha" on every thirst trap we see. Together we will witness new lore develop, main characters will emerge, etc. & we can convince thousands of people that this weirdly titled 80s horror film actually exists
Spread
The video went viral over the following days, inspiring TikTokers to leave comments under unrelated videos claiming the TikTokers look like characters from the film, while also inspiring fan content. For example, on August 13th, TikTokers[3][4] @lonepinemusic and @rllyroman posted videos pretending Zepotha is a real movie, garnering over 217,000 and 604,000 views respectively in a day (shown below, left and right).
@lonepinemusic Ugh this movie is so good! Hidden gem really #zepotha #80shorror #slasher #horror #horrormovie #zepothamovie #crt #crttv ♬ DO YOU REMEMBER ME – jeffri
@rllyroman Zepotha is definitely my favourite Summer Slasher || #zepotha #zepothaedit #zepothamovie #edit #horror #horrortok #horroredit ♬ original sound – roman
That day, X[5] user @astrogliitch posted a piece of fan art depicting a poster for the movie, garnering over 250 likes in a day (shown below, left). On the same day, Tumblr[6] user 420technoblazeit made a post criticizing the meme for being a low-effort, worse version of Goncharov, a fake movie invented by Tumblr, garnering over 700 notes in a day (quoted below). On the same day, Tumblr[7] user notyournightsky posted a can I copy your homework meme suggesting the same thing, garnering over 100 notes in a day (shown below, right).
the thing about zepotha is it’s literally just the worse goncharov. they WISH they could be goncharov. but instead of making any actual content even if it’s just a shitty photoshop edit theyre just going on other people’s content and bombarding the comment section with omg you look just like maxine from zepotha!!!
i want to see edits scraped together from five different 80s slasher films, i want to see cosplays, fake movie posters, in depth slideshow analysis videos. COMMIT TO YOUR BIT
Later that day, TikToker[8][9] @zep0tha posted a video sharing several memes about characters from Zepotha, garnering over 880,000 views in a day (shown below, left). TikToker @emilyjeffri posted numerous videos playing into the meme, which she invented, as well, including a video showcasing a Zepotha filter game created by another TikToker, garnering over 2 million views in a day (shown below, right).
@zep0tha got the idea from @☆antonia☆ PLEASE WATCH THEIR VIDEO ITS SO FUNNY 😭😭#zepotha #80s #horror #ZEPOTHA #maxandlyd #fyp ♬ original sound – ZEPOTHA
@emilyjeffri anyway maxine defender until i die, deserved to be with alaine omg #zepotha #80s #nostalgia #horrormovie #80shorror #horror ♬ DO YOU REMEMBER ME – jeffri
Various Examples
@chronicallyscary Zepotha is BREAKING the internet right now😱 #movie #zepotha #horrormovie #movierecommendation #80smovies #scary #zepothamovie #fyp ♬ Creepy and simple horror background music(1070744) – howlingindicator
@punkyiggy So I just finished watching Zepotha and I am OBSESSED with Danny and Cole so much oh my god. (SPOILER ALERT) Danny’s entire dynamic with his father is so interesting, and the reveal of Danny’s dad actually being the Zepotha Ripper that killed Alaina’s mom and he’s forcing Danny to become the next Ripper. This movie does such a good job at showing Danny’s spiral into madness under the stress of his father, and the scene where he finally breaks down is INSANE, the cinematography and the music are so well done. I love how this movie did Danny and Cole’s relationship, I understand they’re platonic in the movie, but after Zepotha became so popular recently Cole’s actor revealed that they intended for Danny and Cole to be in a relationship it completely validates what everyone has been saying for years. Cole is Danny’s rock, he’s his best friend and despite all the shit Danny’s dad is doing Danny can still be himself with Cole. The breakdown scene when Danny confessed to the new wave of ripper murders is so important because Cole doesn’t run away!! He helps Danny and supports him and he just wants his best friend to be ok :( They honestly remind me a lot of Billy and Stu, or even Hannibal and Will. I wouldn’t be surprised if those characters were inspired by Danny and Cole. Also lmaooo I dont really like the shipname dancole, i think its boring and I like the tumblr ship tag from 2014, Flower Ripper (bc Cole’s a stoner and danny’s a killer) I do find it really cool how dead by daylight named their version of Ghostface after Danny! Its kinda how the original Scream is known for doing a lot of references to classic horror, so it was really cool for DBD to reference Zepotha considering how obscure it’s been until recently. Also, WHEN are we going to talk about how queer coded Cole and Alaina are??? I know Cole’s actor already confirmed Cole was written to be gay and Danny’s bi, but ALAINA IS SUCH A LESBIAN ARE YOU KIDDING LMAAOOOO God it’s kinda iconic how much this movie got away with considering it came out in the 80s If you haven’t seen this movie yet, PLEASE DO!!! #zepotha #zepothamovie #zepothafanart #fanart #digitalart #zepothadanny #zepothacole #flowerripper ♬ original sound – MATT (the rat)
@teodactyl #greenscreen I THOUGHT HE WAS A REAL DOG 😭😭 #Zepotha #zepothamaxine #ZepothaBear ♬ original sound – Spruce Banner
@dlif.lover still traumatizes me TO THIS DAY. #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #zepotha #zepotok #horror #horrorfilm #80shorrormovies ♬ original sound – 𝕬𝖚𝖉𝖎𝖔𝖘
Search Interest
External References
[1] TikTok – emilyjeffri
[2] Spotify – emily jeffri
[3] TikTok – lonepinemusic
[5] X – astrogliitch
[6] Tumblr – 420technoblazeit
[7] Tumblr – notyournightsky
[9] TikTok – emilyjeffri
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