Tarot Movie Review: At first glance, the plot for the new horror flick Tarot, helmed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, appears to be a mash-up of cliches borrowed from other films within the genre. A group of friends play a familiar game/ritual (such as Ouija or Truth or Dare), and soon find themselves being picked off one by one, unable to escape their grim fate (akin to Final Destination). While originality is not always necessary in horror, what is crucial are the frights, and how the story unfolds. Regrettably, Tarot fails to deliver in the former aspect, and falls short in its ability to captivate the audience.
The notion of a horror movie centered around tarot cards is intriguing, and Cohen and Halberg manage to incorporate some clever moments. However, there are numerous elements that ultimately hinder Tarot’s execution. The story begins with a group of college students who spend a weekend at a creepy old mansion to celebrate one of their friend’s birthdays. There are a total of seven main characters, but only a few of them are given enough development to stand out.
Tarot Movie weakness lies in its character.
The group was exploring an old, creaky mansion when they stumbled upon a set of tarot cards. Each card had a disturbing illustration on it. Haley had the ability to read the cards, but she was hesitant to use them because of the sacred rule that one must not use another person’s tarot cards. However, Elise, who was celebrating her birthday, insisted on it. So, Haley gave everyone a reading based on their horoscope. Haley’s zodiac-based summaries of each of her friends were the only real depth these characters received. This set Tarot on a bad path.
Haley made some predictions for the group, which initially didn’t seem harmful, but unfortunately, they quickly turned out to be wrong. Each person’s fate was connected to the reading they received from Haley. For instance, a person who was described as climbing the ladder of success met their end by being impaled repeatedly by a ladder. Tarot Movie Review
Tarot’s originality is overshadowed by a dull plot and weak characters, failing to deliver major scares.
“If we are supposed to feel sad as these characters meet their gruesome fates, Tarot doesn’t do a great job of conveying it. The characters lack distinct personalities or meaningful connections (although two of them are dating, it’s difficult to tell unless they are sitting together), making it challenging for the audience to develop an emotional attachment.”
Haley is the most well-defined character in the ensemble as she is the resident tarot reader and has a backstory. Her ex-boyfriend Grant, played by Adain Bradley, also has a little bit more to do because of their failed relationship. Jacob Batalon, a familiar face from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, puts in the work to give his character Paxton more dimension. However, Tarot fails to convince the audience about these characters and their relationships, as the dialogue and interactions between them are often awkward and poorly delivered. These moments fill in the gaps between the kills, but they don’t do much to develop the characters. Tarot Movie Review
Tarot Movie has some Inventive kills, but the scary becomes less effective over time.
Tarot is successful in creating some impressive monsters and kills. Each character is haunted by the tarot personality which appears in the center of their reading, allowing for unique and creative costuming and makeup. Among these characters, my personal favorite is The Fool, who not only looks genuinely creepy, but also makes the most of the space it inhabits, creating an unsettling yet humorous atmosphere. Had Tarot embraced the campy nature of this moment, it would have made for a more thrilling viewing experience.
Regarding the violence and gore, the movie is somewhat restricted by its PG-13 rating, but there are still some notable instances. The ladder kill mentioned earlier is particularly unusual, and there is one death towards the end of the film (which I won’t divulge too much about, as it may spoil the story) that genuinely elicited feelings of dread and horror within me. The fact that the victim gave an exceptional performance during their final moments only added to the intensity of the scene. Tarot Movie Review
Apart from some jump scares and unsettling deaths, the movie Tarot doesn’t offer much in terms of frights. Even someone like me, who jumps easily, couldn’t find anything particularly scary. The scares are too predictable and obvious, and with each death, the movie settles into a rhythm, leaving no room for surprises. However, the group does have an interesting conversation with a tarot expert (played by Olwen Fouéré), which leads to an eerie flashback exploring the origins of the cards. Although it adds some intrigue to the plot, it is not significant enough to make the movie more enjoyable. Tarot Movie Review
The Tarot’s Ending seemed to be cleverly done, but unfortunately, a last-minute twist was added that made little sense. Although the movie tries to explain it, the explanation seems to cheapen everything that came before it. While Tarot showed some potential for originality, it was ultimately undermined by poorly developed characters, a lackluster plot, and a failure to provide significant scares. This particular set of cards should be kept firmly in its clearly haunted box.
Thanks for reading Tarot Movie Review
Find Showtimes Tarot Movie Review
Theatrical showtimes from Friday, May 3 onward can be found via the links below:
