Tarot (2024): A Cursed Deck Horror Movie Review
Watch the Trailer: Tarot Official Trailer
A Promising Premise Stuck in the Netflix Void
Tarot enters the scene with a tantalizing promise: to blend the intricate fatalism of Final Destination with the esoteric allure of the tarot. Unfortunately, it gets stuck somewhere between "potential cult classic" and "lazy Saturday Netflix scroll." What starts as an intriguing premise fizzles into a PG-13 cocktail of missed opportunities, questionable choices, and just enough redeeming elements to keep you begrudgingly seated.
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 proceed to doom themselves by engaging in an ill-advised reading.
Each friend pulls a card that seals their fate, triggering a series of creatively-themed deaths.
It’s a killer concept—literally. Tarot cards as avatars of doom? Yes, please! But the film squanders this brilliance by half-committing. Deaths tied to specific cards should be a goldmine of horror creativity, but instead, we get 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.
And don’t even get me started on the pacing. The film sprints through its setup and kills like it’s late for dinner. 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 us rooting for the tarot cards rather than the people holding them.
PG-13: The Kiss of Death
Let’s talk about the PG-13 rating, shall we? It’s not inherently a dealbreaker (The Others and Insidious nailed it), but Tarot needed the freedom to be nastier, darker, 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 instead is a splash of blood and a cut to the aftermath. It’s sanitized, safe, and frustrating as hell.
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 their way to the conclusion?
By the time Haley pulls the Death card for the astrologer and burns the deck, it feels less like a satisfying resolution and more like an inevitability that took too long to arrive.
And don’t even 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 not horror—it’s a rejected Scary Movie gag.
The Highs: Tarot Visuals and Creepy Ambiance
To its credit, Tarot isn’t a total trainwreck. Some highlights include:
- 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 also nail the gothic atmosphere, with the Catskills mansion providing a beautifully eerie backdrop.
- The film manages to keep you engaged, despite its flaws. The mystery of the cards and the escalating stakes provide just enough tension to keep you curious about how it will all end.
Final Thoughts: A Missed Opportunity
Tarot had all the ingredients to become a standout horror film: a killer premise, strong visuals, and a rich lore to draw from. But it’s crippled by a 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 as a forgettable horror flick that’s more frustrating than frightening.
If you’re in the mood for a tarot-themed horror film, my advice? Shuffle this one to the bottom of your deck and rewatch Talk to Me instead.
Rating: 6.5/10
Overall. A fun idea suffocated by predictable execution.
The Real Araceli
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Tarot: Seven Stories (2024): Tarot K-drama Review
Watch the Trailer: Tarot: Official Trailer Destiny Decided by Tarot... and Frustrating Choices Tarot: Seven Stories is horror-thriller where tarot cards dictate fate, with each episode unearthing a new twist. Sounds like a recipe for binge-worthy greatness, right? But instead of leaning into its chilling potential, this K-drama bounces between flashes of brilliance and full-on facepalms. What could’ve been a masterpiece becomes an exercise in frustration, saved only by killer acting and a handful of standout moments. The Setup: A Deck of Fate and Frustrations The premise? Pretty damn juicy: Each episode centers on a tarot card tied to a character’s fate. Their suffering unfolds as the card’s meaning plays out in ways poetic, painful, and occasionally absurd. On paper, it’s a goldmine. In practice? It’s like watching someone shuffle a loaded deck and then forget how to deal. Sure, some episodes (cough Episode 3 cough) deliver the eerie goods, but others feel like hastily scribbled filler that leaves you scratching your head. By the end, you’re less scared and more screaming, “But WHY?” Episode 2 breaks its own damn rules by skipping the tarot theme entirely. Backstories? Teased but never fully explored, leaving gaping holes in the story. It dangles mysteries in front of you like a carrot, only to yank them away before the payoff. Acting: The True MVPs Let’s be real—the cast is this show’s saving grace. Dex** absolutely crushes it. For a debut performance, he’s shockingly good—funny, tragic, and downright terrifying. Episode 5? A masterclass. The child actors deserve their own awards. Episode 7 is heartbreaking in the best way, thanks to their raw, haunting performances. It’s maddening because the acting is top-tier, yet the material feels like it was written on a coffee break. Watching this talent wasted on half-baked scripts is like watching Michelin chefs try to elevate instant noodles. The Horror: Lukewarm at Best Is Tarot a horror series? Technically, sure. But if you’re expecting sleepless nights, lower your expectations. Episode 3 is the only real standout, delivering a genuinely unsettling atmosphere and the kind of tension the show desperately needs more of. The rest? More like a psychological thriller with mild creepiness sprinkled in. The tarot card concept screams for grotesque, visceral horror, but the show plays it safe. The result? Suspense that fizzles out instead of leaving a mark. The WTF Moments Every show has flaws, but Tarot makes some genuinely baffling choices: Unexplained Suffering:** Who’s pulling the strings here? The series hints at karmic justice but never clarifies why these characters are being punished. Unnecessary Nudity:** The “cheating” subplot leans hard on gratuitous nudity that does nothing but cheapen the story. Subtlety? Never heard of it. Inconsistent Tone:** It careens from heartfelt drama to absurd comedy to lackluster horror, leaving you dizzy and annoyed. The Highs: Twists and Tarot Aesthetics It’s not all bad—some elements do work: The tarot visuals are striking, adding mystique even when the writing doesn’t. The end-of-episode explanations are a nice touch, though they often feel rushed. The plot twists keep you guessing, even if half of them make you roll your eyes. *Final Thoughts: A Creative Idea Lost in Chaotic Execution * Tarot feels like a first draft: brimming with potential but bogged down by messy pacing, unresolved plotlines, and rushed storytelling. The acting? Phenomenal. The concept? Brilliant. The execution? Meh. It’s frustrating because the show’s best moments tease what it could’ve been if someone had tightened the screws. If you like dark, twisty dramas and don’t mind playing detective to fill in the gaps, Tarot might scratch your itch. Just don’t expect satisfying answers—or to fully understand what the hell is going on. Bottom Line: Like a half-read tarot spread, Tarot teases the future but leaves you guessing in all the worst ways. Rating: 7/10 Recommendation: Shuffle this into your queue if you’re curious, but don’t cancel your therapy session trying to make sense of it.