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Tarot
Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:
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Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:
AV NIRVANA is member and reader-supported. When you purchase an item using our links, we might earn an affiliate commission.
As an avid consumer of horror films I have to have a sort of jaded “dulled” mentality when it comes to the genre. I mean, we all know that over half of the horror genre is cookie cutter jump scare films, with only a few moments of true innovation and culture affecting films midst a sea of utter tripe. And in that sort of jaded “dulled” state you have to simply enjoy the McDonalds like fast food entries that get pumped out year after year, or you simply lose interest in the genre completely. So it comes to NO surprise for any horror nerd that Tarot was never destined to be a 5 star Michelin dining course for the horror palate. Just one look at the trailer and audiences know exactly where this is headed, and director/writers Spenser Cohen (Co-Writer of Moonfall...which should tell you enough about the creative pedigree) and Anna Halberg do NOT disappoint in fulfilling our predictions down to the letter.
It’s Elise’s birthday (Larsen Thompson), so she and her friends head up to a remote cabin in the woods (never a good sign in a horror flick) to party the night away. After drinking up all the booze in the house, the group of friends start snooping around and stumble upon an ancient (and mysteriously creepy) set of tarot cards. Since Haley (Harriet Slater) is big into astrology, she agrees to read all of their fortunes to pass the time sans alcohol. All seems normal at first, but the next day upon returning to civilization the young adults find out that there was a little more to the cards than simply being a game.
One by one the fortunes start coming true, but in the worst possible way. First it’s Elise, then Lucas (Wolfgang Novogratz), and soon the rest realize that they are dying at the hands of something malevolent. Using their online resources, Haley and the rest of the survivors track down a mysterious medium by the name of Alma (Olwen Fouere) who info dumps onto the rest of the group that the cards are a known cursed entity. Turns out that hundreds of years ago an astrologer was wronged by a Duke not satisfied with her reading, and in return she bound her soul to the cards so that she could enact revenge on everyone in the future who ever used them. Now it’s up to Haley, her ex boyfriend Grant (Adain Bradley) and the rest of the damned group to break the curse and change fate before it consumes them all.
While most of the film plays out in the most safe and predictable manner known to man, I did kind of get a kick out of how they kind of stole the twist from The Wishmaster series. They are most certainly cursed, but much like Wishmaster which used a Djinn who fulfilled the wishers wishes in the most horrific ways possible, the cards simply predict your future, but turn the zodiac signs in on themselves, so that the person has the worst possible reading of the cards come true instead of the normal way. It wasn’t much, but it was clever enough that I sort of had to tip my hat to it.
Rating:
Rated PG-13 for horror violence, terror, bloody images, some strong language and drug content.
Video:
Audio:
Extras: :
• Circle of Friends
• Killer Outtakes
Final Score:
At the end of the day, Tarot is a rote and fairly bland horror movie, but also not the worst I’ve ever seen either. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hailing it as the next The Conjuring (the first one, not the “meh” sequels) or anything, but it was decent enough for me to simply munch some popcorn and giggle at the twisted deaths the demented spirit of fate dreamt up for our protagonists. But unfortunately the PG-13 rating sort of killed some of the fun out of the middling monster/slasher flick, sucking any gravity or weight out from the kills (about the only real thing to enjoy in the movie). Strangely enough the film doesn’t attempt to give us the typical “last minute switch” where the survivors think they got away, but the film psyches you out with the villain popping up to consume them just as the credits role (and yes, I checked for a mid or end credits scene…. you Marvel, you’ve forever ruined film credits), instead just letting the happy ending ride. The Blu-ray looks and sounds pretty good I might add, with the audio mix EASILY being the best part of the entire package (yeah, the extras are a tad mediocre). I’m not going to recommend that you all go out and buy it, but for fans the disc looks and sounds great, and for the rest of you? I’d simply rent it if you’re bored. It’s pure dumb disposable popcorn fodder.
Technical Specifications:
Starring: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Jacob Batalon, Avantika, Humberly Gonzalez, Larsent Thompson, Olwen Fouere
Directed by: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Written by: Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 AVC
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 5.1, French (Canadian), Spanish, Thai DTS-HD MA 5.1, English DVS 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Studio: Sony
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 93 minutes
Blu-Ray Release Date: July 9th, 2024
Recommendation: Low Rental