Tarot (2024): A Cursed Deck Horror Movie Review

Our Tarot (2024) movie review: a horror film that pairs Final Destination-style deaths with a cursed tarot deck, and mostly fumbles it. Rating: 6.5/10.

Tarot arrives with a tantalizing promise: blend the intricate fatalism of Final Destination with the esoteric allure of tarot cards. Unfortunately, it gets stuck somewhere between "potential cult classic" and "lazy Saturday Netflix scroll." Here is my full review of the 2024 cursed-deck horror movie: what works, what doesn't, and whether it deserves a spot in your queue.

Watch the trailer: Tarot official trailer

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The plot: a deck of death and dumb decisions

The setup is standard horror fare:

• A group of college friends rent a secluded mansion (because of course they do).
• They find an ancient deck of tarot cards (because why not).
• They doom themselves with an ill-advised reading.

Each friend pulls a card that seals their fate, triggering a series of themed deaths.

It's a killer concept, literally. Tarot cards as avatars of doom? Yes, please. But the film squanders it by half-committing. Deaths tied to specific cards should be a goldmine of horror creativity. What we get is bloodless cutaways and uninspired executions:

• The High Priestess bludgeons Elise in the attic? Yawn.
• The Hanged Man killing Madeline? Predictable.

This is a horror movie that's afraid to show its horror, opting instead for cheap teases and bloodless aftermaths.

The pacing doesn't help. The film sprints through its setup and kills like it's late for dinner, and the characters are so undercooked they might as well be a sushi platter:

• Haley and Grant's post-breakup tension? Who cares.
• Madeline's freakout on the bridge? Forgettable.

The lack of character development leaves you rooting for the tarot cards.

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PG-13: the kiss of death

Let's talk about the rating. PG-13 isn't inherently a dealbreaker (The Others and Insidious nailed it), but Tarot needed the freedom to be nastier, darker, and more visceral.

This is a movie about tarot cards cursing people to horrifying, symbolic deaths, and yet most of the deaths happen off-screen. What we get is a splash of blood and a cut to the aftermath. It's sanitized, safe, and frustrating as hell.

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The final act: intrigue undercut by idiocy

The backstory of the cursed deck and its connection to a vengeful Hungarian astrologer is one of the film's stronger elements:

• A cursed deck that brings doom to anyone who uses it? Great.
• The astrologer seeking revenge for her murdered daughter? Chilling.

But when the final act rolls around, it's like the scriptwriters gave up.

• Why does it take the remaining characters so long to realize they can do a reading on the astrologer to stop her?
• If I, the audience, figured it out 30 minutes ago, why am I still watching these characters bumble toward the conclusion?

By the time Haley pulls the Death card for the astrologer and burns the deck, it feels like an inevitability that took too long to arrive.

And don't get me started on Paxton's subplot. The Fool attacks him in an elevator, only for his roommate to conveniently save him by opening the door? That's a rejected Scary Movie gag.

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The highs: tarot visuals and creepy ambiance

To its credit, Tarot isn't a total trainwreck. Some highlights:

• The visual design of the tarot-inspired creatures is stunning. The High Priestess, The Fool, and The Magician all have a haunting, otherworldly quality that deserved more screen time.
• The cinematography and set design nail the gothic atmosphere, with the Catskills mansion providing a beautifully eerie backdrop.
• The film keeps you engaged despite its flaws. The mystery of the cards and the escalating stakes provide just enough tension to make you curious how it all ends.

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Final verdict: a missed opportunity

Tarot had all the ingredients of a standout horror film: a killer premise, strong visuals, and rich lore to draw from. It's crippled by the PG-13 rating, rushed storytelling, and a script that underestimates its audience. What could have been a spiritual successor to Final Destination or The Cabin in the Woods ends up a forgettable horror flick that's more frustrating than frightening.

Rating: 6.5/10. A fun idea suffocated by predictable execution. If you're in the mood for a tarot-themed horror film, shuffle this one to the bottom of your deck and rewatch Talk to Me instead.

Want more cursed cards? Read our Tarot: Seven Stories K-drama review, or see which cards really are the 10 worst to pull in a reading. Curious what the Death card actually means? See the Death card page.