tarot movie

Movie Review: ‘Tarot’ – Visually Unique but Lacking Substance

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Horror Movie Fatigue

Is the horror genre losing its touch? Apart from the enjoyable yet tiring film “Abigail,” mainstream horror this year has mostly been about long, drawn-out jump scares. “The First Omen” felt like a poor imitation of better films, full of endless jump scares. Loud noises and brief creepy faces can startle, but they don’t create lasting emotional impact once you know they’re coming.

Another Jump Scare Film

This summer, “Tarot,” movie directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, joins the lineup as another jump scare-heavy film. The fact that it wasn’t shown to the press before the release might indicate its quality. While not the worst movie ever, “Tarot” feels like a pointless studio effort.

Target Audience?

Who is this movie for? The idea of a deadly tarot deck hunting down characters one by one sounds promising, especially for horror fans. However, “Tarot” makes two major mistakes right from the start.

Mistake #1: PG-13 Rating

A movie about a deadly tarot deck should be intense and violent, deserving an R rating. Instead, “Tarot” is PG-13, and it shows. Filmmakers Cohen and Halberg avoid showing violence, cutting away from potentially interesting scenes. For example, during a scene where a character is kidnapped by a demonic magician and placed in a box to be sawn in half, the film cuts away just as the saw enters the box, leaving the audience to imagine what happens next. This hurts the film’s pacing and style.

There are some visually impressive moments, like a scene on a commuter train where shadows are used effectively. However, these moments aren’t enough to make the film stand out because the visuals and gore are not fully developed.

Mistake #2: Weak Characters

The characters in “Tarot” are poorly developed and make irrational decisions. For instance, Haley, who can read tarot cards, advises Madeline not to run from her problems. Later, when a threatening message appears on a car window, Haley runs away instead of resisting, as she had advised. These irrational decisions lead to cheap jump scares rather than meaningful character development.

Audience Reaction

Low-budget horror films often make money, which is why movies like “Tarot” keep being made. However, audiences deserve better. The lack of strong reactions to “Tarot” from the audience at my screening shows that people want original, genuinely scary horror movies that leave a lasting impression.

Conclusion

“Tarot” is based on Nicholas Adams’ “Horrorscope,” but the direction by Cohen and Halberg lacks imagination. Even talented actors like Olwen Fouéré can’t save the film. Audiences can either continue supporting these unfulfilling films or demand better quality in horror movies. I hope for the latter, but given the shortsighted decisions in this film, a sequel might already be in the works.

Grade: D-

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