Tarot

Movie Trailer

Release Date
May 3, 2024

Genre
Supernatural Horror

Cast & Crew

• Harriet Slater as Haley
• Adain Bradley as Grant
• Avantika as Paige
• Wolfgang Novogratz as Lucas
• Humberly González as Madeline
• Larsen Thompson as Elise
• Olwen Fouéré as Alma
• Jacob Batalon as Paxton

Director
Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Producer

• Leslie Morgenstein
• Scott Glassgold
• Elysa Koplovitz Dutton

Writer
Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Budget
$8 million

Production Company

• Screen Gems
• Alloy Entertainment
• Ground Control

Running Time
92 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R

Content Advisory

• Horror violence
• Disturbing imagery
• Mature themes

Movie Story
Tarot follows a group of college friends who, while celebrating a birthday at a secluded mansion in the Catskills, stumble upon an ancient Tarot deck hidden in the basement. They decide to entertain themselves by having Haley, the group’s horoscope enthusiast, perform readings for each member. The lighthearted activity quickly turns sinister as each card drawn begins to manifest in their lives with terrifying consequences. One by one, the friends meet gruesome deaths that eerily align with the Tarot cards they received during their readings.

The group soon realizes that they have unwittingly awakened a malevolent force tied to the cursed Tarot deck. In their desperate quest to save themselves, they seek out Alma Astron, an expert in Tarot and the occult, who reveals the horrifying history of the cards. These Tarot cards were once used by a vengeful astrologer in the 18th century, who cursed them to bring death upon anyone who used them after her own daughter was murdered. The friends must now race against time to break the curse before they all meet their fates.

As they return to the mansion to destroy the deck, the situation spirals further out of control. Each attempt to rid themselves of the cards ends in failure, and the malevolent entities linked to the cards grow stronger. In a final showdown, Haley must confront her own grief and fears, using the cursed deck against itself in an attempt to end the cycle of death. The climax sees her sacrifice, her grief over her mother’s death being the key to destroying the deck and banishing the spirits. Though some survive, they are left haunted by the events and the realization that the curse may not be fully eradicated.

Special Effects
The film utilizes practical and CGI effects to bring the Tarot card manifestations to life, with grotesque and surreal depictions of the characters’ fates that align with the horror genre’s conventions.

Box Office Performance
Tarot grossed $49.1 million worldwide, significantly surpassing its $8 million budget, making it a box office success despite mixed critical reception.

Filming Locations

• Belgrade, Serbia

Notable Quotes

• “The cards know your fate, even if you don’t.” – Alma Astron
• “You can’t escape the cards; they’re in your hands now.” – Haley

Behind-the-Scenes
Tarot marks the directorial debut of Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg. The film faced several title changes before settling on Tarot, which better reflected its supernatural theme tied to the cursed Tarot deck.

Final Verdict
Tarot is a chilling entry in the supernatural horror genre that combines traditional horror elements with the intriguing concept of Tarot cards determining fate. While the film’s plot may be predictable for seasoned horror fans, it delivers enough scares and tension to be a satisfying experience for genre enthusiasts.

IMDb Rating
4.8/10

Image Source: by Slobodan Pikula/Sony Pictures