Tarot – Film Review

Tarot, the supernatural horror film directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, attempts to bring Nicholas Adams’ 1992 novel Horrorscope to life but falls short in almost every aspect. Despite the intriguing premise and a promising cast, the film struggles to deliver a coherent and engaging narrative, resulting in a disjointed and ultimately unsatisfying experience.

The story follows a group of college friends who rent a mansion in the Catskills for Elise’s birthday. Tensions are already high due to the recent breakup between Haley (Harriet Slater) and Grant (Adain Bradley). The plot kicks off when Haley discovers a strange tarot deck in the basement and reads everyone’s horoscopes, which foreshadows their gruesome demises. What could have been a thrilling narrative instead becomes a plodding sequence of predictable events.

From the moment Elise draws The High Priestess card, it’s clear where the story is heading. Each subsequent death, corresponding to the tarot readings, is telegraphed far in advance, stripping away any suspense. The deaths, though gruesome, lack creativity and often feel like mere checkboxes being ticked off. Elise’s death by the ladder and Lucas’ demise at the train station are particularly uninspired.

The cast, including Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, and Jacob Batalon, does their best with the material, but the characters they portray are one-dimensional. Haley is the stereotypical reluctant leader, Grant the brooding ex, and Paxton (Jacob Batalon) the comic relief who unfortunately doesn’t get many laughs. The chemistry among the group feels forced, and the dialogue is often cringe-worthy, making it hard to invest in their plight.

Avantika‘s portrayal of Paige and Humberly González’s Madeline are particularly disappointing, as their characters are reduced to mere plot devices to propel the story forward. Paige’s death, sawed in half by The Magician, could have been a standout moment but instead feels rushed and devoid of emotional impact.

Cohen and Halberg’s direction shows glimpses of potential, but they fail to maintain a consistent tone throughout the film. The opening scenes in the Catskills mansion set a suitably eerie atmosphere, but this quickly dissipates as the film progresses. The screenplay, also by Cohen and Halberg, is riddled with clichés and lacks the depth needed to elevate the story from a run-of-the-mill horror flick to something truly memorable.

The film’s pacing is erratic, with long stretches of monotonous dialogue interspersed with sudden bursts of violence. This disjointed rhythm prevents any building of tension or suspense, making the film feel longer than its actual runtime.

The special effects in Tarot are a mixed bag. Some of the practical effects used in the death scenes are well-executed, but they often lack the visceral impact necessary to leave a lasting impression. The monstrous versions of the tarot cards’ archetypes, such as The High Priestess and The Hermit, are visually interesting but are not utilized to their full potential.

Cinematographer Elie Smolkin’s work is serviceable but unremarkable. The film’s visual palette is dominated by dark, muted tones, which, while appropriate for a horror film, often makes it difficult to see what’s happening on screen. The lack of visual clarity adds to the frustration rather than the fear.

Tarot attempts to explore themes of fate, destiny, and the inescapability of death, but these concepts are handled with a heavy hand. The film’s central conceit—that the tarot deck is cursed and brings about the deaths it predicts—could have been a rich vein to mine for thematic depth. However, the execution is so clumsy that any potential for deeper meaning is lost.

The subplot involving Alma Astron (Olwen Fouéré), the tarot expert, and the backstory of the cursed deck adds some intrigue but is ultimately underdeveloped. Alma’s death at the hands of the Six of Swords, while meant to be shocking, feels more like a contrived plot device than a natural progression of the story.

For fans of supernatural horror looking for a film that delves into the mysteries of tarot, Tarot will likely be a disappointment. Its potential is squandered in a sea of clichés and uninspired storytelling, making it a forgettable entry in the genre.