Tarot movie review: What’s on the cards? Horror film cliches

Tarot movie review: The horror film fails to do justice to the initial promise of delivering a dark and twisted teen drama.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

3 min readMumbaiMay 4, 2024 09:32 AM IST

Tarot, helmed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg, is in cinemas. (Photo: Tarot movie/ Instagram)

The latest addition to this year’s supernatural horror releases, Tarot follows a familiar storyline of the genre: a bunch of teenagers somehow end up being cursed and consequently set out to find a way to revoke it as the body count goes up. There is a satisfaction that the audience finds in familiarity as the expected chills and thrills are rolled out. The problem with Tarot, however, is its overdependence on the horror film tropes.

Based on Nicholas Adams’ 1992 novel Horrorscope, the story unfolds when a group of college friends stumble upon ancient tarot cards kept in the forbidden part of a secluded cabin. As they naively draw their fortunes, the lines between prediction and grim reality blur. The predictions made with the help of these cards by Harriet Slater’s character, unleashes an evil spirit of an astrologer and sets off a chain of deadly consequences. The friends, now fighting for survival, must find a way to render the curse powerless.

Even as Tarot banks on a tried-and-tested formula, there are some sequences which are well-designed to give the scared and screaming characters an apt setting to show their histrionics. Yet, as the cast’s performance remains uneven — shifting from being convincing to monotonous — the actors are not able to create a lasting impact. That’s a missed opportunity since horror movies, of late, have been excelling in storytelling as well as characterisation.

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In Tarot, the characters remain sketchy as little effort has been made to developing them. The atmosphere is moody and mysterious. But without many engaging dramatic moments or twists, it fails to engage the audience. The shape-shifting evil spirit appears in a string of fearsome avatars but they barely manage to spook the audience after the initial jump scares.

The film could have been this summer’s teen melodrama, set in the world of horror. But the 93-minute long feature does not do justice to the initial promise of delivering a dark and twisted nail-biter.

Tarot cast: Harriet Slater, Avantika Vandanapu, Jacob Batalon and Adain Bradley
Tarot director: Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg
Tarot rating: One and half stars

Alaka Sahani

Alaka Sahani is a prominent film critic and journalist based in Mumbai. With a career spanning over two decades, she has established herself as one of India’s most authoritative voices in cinematic journalism, known for an analytical approach and insights that transcend the standard cycle of celebrity journalism. Expertise & Accolades In 2014, Alaka was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film Critic. Her Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) citation specifically lauded her for "highlighting facets of cinema beyond glamour and gossip" and for her ability to delve into the contemporary relevance of iconic filmmakers. Her commitment to journalistic integrity was further recognised in 2019 with a Special Mention at the Red Ink Awards for her investigative feature, 'In Search of a Star'. Her article titled 'People Like Us', published in The Indian Express on March 27, 2022, was shortlisted for Red Ink Award, 2023. Global Industry Leadership Alaka’s expertise is sought after by major international and domestic film bodies: Golden Globes: In 2025, she joined the international voting body for the 83rd Annual Golden Globes. National Film Awards: She served on the prestigious jury for the 68th National Film Awards, helping select the finest contributions to Indian cinema. Global Perspective: Her work consistently bridges the gap between commercial Bollywood A-listers and emerging independent talents, offering nuanced insights into both Indian regional cinema and international film trends. Focus & Vision Beyond the screen, Alaka is a dedicated observer of Mumbai’s vibrant theatre scene and the historical evolution of the moving image. Through her long-form articles and deep-dive interviews, she continues to challenge "tried-and-tested" templates, providing readers with a deep understanding of the artistic and systemic workings of the Indian and global film industry. ... Read More

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