Tarot is a 2024 American supernatural horror film written and directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg (in their feature film directorial debut) and co-written by Nicholas Adams. It is based on a 1992 novel, Horrorscope, by Nicholas Adams. The film stars Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika Vandanapu, Wolfgang Novogratz, Humberly González, Larsen Thompson, and Jacob Batalon.
| Tarot | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by |
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| Written by |
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| Based on | Horrorscope by Nicholas Adams |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Elie Smolkin |
| Edited by | Tom Elkins |
| Music by | Joseph Bishara |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Releasing |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $8 million[2] |
| Box office | $2.5 million[3] |
Tarot was released in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing on May 3, 2024.
Plot edit
A group of friends - Haley, Grant, Paxton, Paige, Madeline, Lucas, and Elise - rent out a mansion in the Catskills for Elise's birthday. With tension in the group following Haley and Grant's recent breakup, they decide to distract themselves by having Haley read their horoscopes with a box of strange tarot cards discovered in the basement. Although Haley states that using someone else's deck is against the rules in Tarot, they decide to proceed. Elise receives The High Priestess, and Lucas gets The Hermit. Madeline gets The Hanged Man while Paige and Paxton are read The Magician and The Fool respectively. When Haley reveals Grant has The Devil card, the two argue. Finally, Haley reads her own horoscope with the cards and gets the Death card.
The next day, the group returns to campus and notices Haley's readings coming true such as Lucas receiving a financial reward. That night, Elise investigates strange noises in the attic and is attacked by a monstrous version of The High Priestess who bludgeons her to death with a ladder. Her death is considered an accident, shocking the others. Haley reveals she began Tarot reading while her mother was fighting illness, but the cards always foretold her death. Lucas is later attacked by The Hermit in a train station and is killed by a speeding train while attempting to flee. Haley notices each death corresponds to the tarot readings and the group suspects something is amiss with the deck.
The group decides to visit Alma Astryn, an expert on the occult and tarot readings. She identifies the cards as belonging to an Astrologer who, in the late 18th century, served a Hungarian baron and would predict the future for him. After a reading that predicted the baron's pregnant wife would die in childbirth, the baron banished her. After the reading came true, the grief-stricken Baron ordered his men to kill the Astrologer's daughter. The Astrologer, driven mad by grief, killed herself and cursed the deck to kill anyone who used them. Alma reveals the cards are responsible for several tarot reading groups dying in the past, including an incident in London that she narrowly survived. Alma urges the group to destroy the deck, which is still at the mansion.
Driving to the mansion, their car breaks down and they are attacked by The Hanged Man who kills Madeline. Terrified, Paxton leaves the others and returns to campus while Haley, Grant and Paige return to the mansion. At campus, Paxton is stalked by The Fool and is eventually cornered in an elevator. The group is unable to burn the cards and request Alma's assistance. She attempts to contact the Astrologer's spirit and, after she appears, Alma is killed by the Six of Swords. Paige accidentally splits away from Grant and Haley and is lured into the basement, where she gets sawed in half by The Magician. Upstairs, Grant and Haley are attacked by The Devil and Death respectively.
As Grant is dragged away by The Devil, Haley confronts the Astrologer, using the cards to read her horoscope which lands on Death. Haley lets go of her mother's grief and the Astrologer's spirit, consequently, is burnt alongside the deck. Haley and Grant reconcile over their survival and relationship and start to make their way home. On the way, they see a familiar car approaching and are relieved to learn that the driver is none other than Paxton, who survived his ordeal. On the drive back to campus, Paxton retells his survival story: his roommate, Todd, had simply opened the elevator door at the last second, which made The Fool disappear.
Cast edit
- Harriet Slater as Haley
- Adain Bradley as Grant
- Jacob Batalon as Paxton
- Avantika Vandanapu as Paige
- Humberly González as Madeline
- Wolfgang Novogratz as Lucas
- Larsen Thompson as Elise
- Olwen Fouéré as Alma Astryn
Production edit
Deadline Hollywood reported the production of Horrorscope in June 2022, with Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden, Avantika Vandanapu, Adain Bradley joining the cast.[4] The film was directed and written by Spenser Cohen and Ana Halberg, based on Nicholas Adams's 1992 novel of the same name.[5] Ground Control's Scott Glassgold produced through Alloy Entertainment, together with Leslie Morgenstein and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton. Halberg and Cohen served as executive producers.[4] Screen Gems also produced the film.[6][7] In July 2022, Humberly González joined the cast.[8] In October 2022, Harriet Slater joined the cast.[9]
In January 2024, the film was renamed to Tarot.[10]
Release edit
Tarot was originally scheduled to be released on June 28, 2024,[11] before being moved up to May 10, 2024.[12] It was later moved down a week to May 3, 2024.[13]
Reception edit
Box office edit
In the United States and Canada, Tarot was released alongside The Fall Guy, and is projected to gross $5-6 million from 3,000 theaters in its opening weekend.[2] The film made $2.5 million on its first day, including $715,000 from preview screenings.[14]
Critical response edit
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 12% of 25 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.1/10.[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 35 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[16] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "C-" on an A+ to F scale.[17]
References edit
- ^ "Tarot (15)". BBFC. April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
- ^ a b Lang, Brent (April 30, 2024). "Box Office Preview: 'The Fall Guy' Eyes $30 Million-Plus Debut as Summer Movie Season Revs Up". Variety. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "Tarot – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (June 28, 2022). "Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden, Adain Bradley and Avantika To Star In Screen Gems' 'Horrorscope'". Deadline. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 26, 2020). "Screen Gems Lands Alloy Entertainment Novel 'Horrorscope;' Anna Halberg & Spenser Cohen To Script". Deadline. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Hamman, Cody (May 18, 2023). "Horrorscope: Jacob Batalon horror film lands June 2024 release date". JoBlo. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ DeVore, Britta (June 28, 2022). "'Horrorscope' Taps Jacob Batalon, Avantika, Alana Boden & Adain Bradley as Leads". Collider. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Castaneda, Tom (July 2, 2022). "Humberly González to Star in Screen Gems & Alloy Entertainment's Thriller "Horrorscope"". Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (October 28, 2022). "'Horrorscope': 'Pennyworth's Harriet Slater Latest To Join Horror Pic From Screen Gems, Alloy Entertainment". Deadline. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ @SonyPictures (January 30, 2024). "Whose face will you see when you take your last breath? @TarotMovie is coming exclusively to theaters this May. #TarotMovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (May 16, 2023). "Sony Pushes 'Harold And The Purple Crayon' And 'They Listen' To 2024, Sets Dates For 'My Ex-Friend's Wedding,' 'Horrorscope' And 'Psycho-Pass: Providence'". Deadline. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
- ^ Squires, John (December 7, 2023). "Sony's Horror Movie Horrorscope Moves Into May 2024 Release Date". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ "Theatrical Release Changes for the Week Ending March 10, 2024". The Numbers. March 6, 2024. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (May 3, 2024). "'The Fall Guy' Raises $3M+ In Previews – Friday AM Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Tarot". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Tarot". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
- ^ "Home". CinemaScore. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
