“Tarot” is one of the surprise horror hits of 2024. It stands out with its inventive death scenes and creepy creature designs. The film, which pushes the boundaries of PG-13 horror, is becoming a favorite on Netflix.

Featuring both established and new actors such as Avantika, Jacob Batalon and Harriet Slater, “Tarot” turns an interesting idea into something unexpectedly scary.

The story begins with a group of friends staying in an AirBnB-like mansion. They discover an old tarot deck and ask their spiritual friend, Haley (Slater), to read their horoscopes. The film follows a similar structure to Final Destination, with each friend encountering a death that matches their tarot reading.

The reasons behind these deaths are revealed through an extensive backstory. Will anyone escape this cosmic curse or will everyone fall victim to fate? Let me tell you.

What is “Tarot” about?

“Tarot” begins with college friends in a mansion in the woods, playing drinking games. We learn that Haley and Grant (Adain Bradley), a couple, have broken up, which is important to the story. When they run out of alcohol, they explore the spooky house.

They don’t find any booze, but they do stumble upon a basement full of old items. They find a box of tarot cards and have Haley read her horoscopes. These readings are eerily similar to the premonitions in Final Destination. The film sometimes feels like a mishmash of different horror tropes, but it remains familiar and engaging.

The tarot cards feature creatures that relate to each character’s traits, including the high priestess, the fool, the hanged man, the devil, the magician, and the hermit. With so many different characters and personalities, it can be hard to keep track, but the card designs and creatures are stunning.

The film is a supernatural slasher, with each character being killed by the creature from their tarot card. Even if you don't immediately connect the cards to the characters, the film provides plenty of explanation.

The death sequences in 'Tarot' are the highlight of the film

The film focuses heavily on its death scenes, which are quite frightening. Elise (Larsen Thompson), who has been anxiously getting her tarot reading, is the first to die. Her death is shocking, especially for her girlfriend, Paige (Avantika). Elise is killed by the high priestess in a brutal scene in the attic.

The second death occurs in an abandoned subway, showcasing the film's variety of settings. These scenes often echo tarot readings, making the previous information worthwhile.

The group seeks help from Alma Astron (Olwen Fouéré), an older woman who has experienced similar horrors. Alma advises them to destroy the tarot cards. Upon returning to the house, another character, Madelyn (Humberly Gonzalez), is hanged in a tense scene on a bridge. Her death is preceded by a tarot reading that predicts her fate.

The creatures in 'Tarot' were so scary they scared the cast

The film used practical effects for the creatures, making them more frightening. Actors played the monsters, adding to the film's spooky atmosphere. Gonzalez mentioned how scary the contortionists were on set. Batalon noted that the spooky atmosphere continued even when filming stopped, praising the prosthetics and costumes.

After Madelyn's death, Paxton (Batalon) leaves the group, skeptical of the tarot's warnings. He returns to his place, where he faces the most terrifying scene of the film when the fool approaches him. Although his death happens off-screen, the tension is high.

Grant, Haley, and Paige arrive at the house and discover that destroying the letters by burning them is the best way to lift the curse. However, the letters do not burn, and Alma realizes that she must read the horoscope of the woman who cursed the letters.

How does 'Tarot' end?

“Tarot” has a lot of backstory, but it explains everything in detail. In the 16th century, an astrologer read a tarot deck for a Hungarian count, who was disturbed by predictions of death for his pregnant wife. The count banished the astrologer and killed his daughter.

In anger, she performed a dark ritual and bound her soul to the cards. Now, she takes the form of the cards and kills those who use them.

Alma begins reading the astrologer's horoscope and sees her in the room, creating a tense atmosphere. Paige's death is the most memorable scene, where she is sawed in half by the magician. Avantika's performance adds to the impact of the scene.

With Alma also dying, Haley must read the astrologer's horoscope. She reveals that all the cards are reversed, ending the astrologer's curse. Haley connects with the astrologer by discussing her own loss, leading to the antagonist's defeat. Haley and Grant leave the mansion as the only survivors—or so it seems.

As they drive away, Paxton appears to be alive, thanks to his quick reflexes and a bit of luck. The film ends on a light note, showing Paxton's survival and hinting at potential future stories.

Despite some flashy moments, “Tarot” is an entertaining film with a satisfying conclusion. While no sequel is confirmed yet, directors Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg are working on new projects with horror experts Jason Blum and James Wan.

“Tarot” is available to stream on Netflix in the US

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