View source for Tarot (2024 American film)


{{Distinguish|Tarot (2024 South Korean film)}}

{{Infobox film
| image          = Tarot Teaser Poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Spenser Cohen]]
* Anna Halberg
}}
| writer         = {{Plainlist|
* Spenser Cohen
* Anna Halberg
}}
| based_on       = {{Based on|''Horrorscope''|[[John Peel (writer)#Written as "Nicholas Adams"|Nicholas Adams]]}}
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Leslie Morgenstein]] 
* Scott Glassgold 
* Elysa Koplovitz Dutton
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|<!--per ending credits billing block-->
* [[Harriet Slater (actress)|Harriet Slater]]
* Adain Bradley
* [[Avantika Vandanapu|Avantika]]
* [[Wolfgang Novogratz]]
* [[Humberly González]]
* [[Larsen Thompson]]
* [[Olwen Fouéré]]
* [[Jacob Batalon]]
}}
| cinematography = Elie Smolkin
| music          = [[Joseph Bishara]]
| editing        = {{Plainlist|
* Tom Elkins
* Josh Sgarlata
}}
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* [[Screen Gems]]
* [[Alloy Entertainment]]
* Ground Control
}}
| distributor    = [[Sony Pictures Releasing]]
| released       = {{Film date|2024|5|3}}
| runtime        = 92 minutes<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Tarot'' (15)|date=April 3, 2024|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/tarot-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdiwmju1 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=[[BBFC]]}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $8 million<ref name="varietyopening"/>
| gross          = $49.3 million<ref name=BOM>{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=14088510|title=Tarot (2024)|access-date=August 3, 2024}}</ref><ref name=NUM>{{Cite web |title=Tarot – Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tarot-(2024)#tab=summary |website=The Numbers |access-date=August 3, 2024 |archive-date=September 27, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240927175025/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Tarot-(2024)#tab=summary |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

'''''Tarot''''' is a 2024 American [[Supernatural horror film|supernatural horror]] film written and directed by [[Spenser Cohen]] and Anna Halberg, in their feature film directorial debuts, based on the 1992 novel ''Horrorscope'' by [[John Peel (writer)#Written as "Nicholas Adams"|Nicholas Adams]]. The film stars [[Harriet Slater (actress)|Harriet Slater]], Adain Bradley, [[Avantika (actress)|Avantika]], [[Wolfgang Novogratz]], [[Humberly González]], [[Larsen Thompson]], and [[Jacob Batalon]] as a group of college students who, after using a strange [[Tarot|Tarot deck]], begin to gruesomely die one by one. [[Olwen Fouéré]] co-stars.

''Tarot'' was released in the United States by [[Sony Pictures Releasing]] on May 3, 2024. The film received generally negative reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing $49.3 million worldwide over a budget of $8 million.<ref name="Dick">{{cite web |last=Dick |first=Jeremy |title=New Horror Film Becomes Big Box Office Success Despite Harsh Reviews |url=https://www.cbr.com/tarot-box-office-rotten-tomatoes/ |publisher=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=July 18, 2024 |archive-date=May 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515165117/https://www.cbr.com/tarot-box-office-rotten-tomatoes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Plot==
A group of college friends – Haley, Grant, Paxton, Paige, Madeline, Lucas, and Elise – rent a mansion in the [[Catskills]] for Elise's birthday. As the atmosphere turns awkward following Haley and Grant's recent breakup, the group attempt to lighten the mood by having Haley read their fortunes with a box of strange old [[tarot|tarot cards]] discovered in the basement. Elise gets [[The High Priestess]]; Lucas gets [[The Hermit (tarot card)|The Hermit]]; Madeline [[The Hanged Man (tarot card)|The Hanged Man]]; Paige [[The Magician (tarot card)|The Magician]]; and Paxton [[The Fool (tarot card)|The Fool]]. Grant receives [[The Devil (tarot card)|The Devil]]; Haley herself gets the [[Death (tarot card)|Death]] card.

The next day, the group returns to campus. That night, Elise is lured to the attic then attacked by a monstrous version of The High Priestess, who proceeds to bludgeon her to death with the attic ladder. The group meets again after finding out about Elise's death and that night, while returning home, Lucas is terrorized by The Hermit and chased into the restricted area of a train station, before being killed by a speeding train. Each death corresponds to the tarot readings the friends received.

Suspecting something amiss with the deck and they are in danger, the remaining five visit Alma Astrom, an expert on tarot they found online. Alma reveals that the cards belonged to an [[astrologer]] who, in 1798, served a Hungarian [[count]] and would predict the future for him. After a reading that his pregnant wife and child would die in childbirth came true, the grief-stricken count ordered his men to kill the astrologer's daughter as revenge. The astrologer, enraged with grief, doomed the count and his friends to death with her cards, then killed herself and cursed her deck to kill anyone who used it. The cards are responsible for several massacres over the years, including Alma's own group of friends. She was the sole survivor, as she did not do a reading on herself. Alma urges them to destroy the deck. While driving to the Catskills mansion, their car breaks down on a bridge. Madeline freaks out, leaves the car and runs away, only to be hanged by The Hanged Man. A terrified Paxton returns to campus, where The Fool stalks and attacks him in an elevator.

At the mansion, Haley, Grant, and Paige are unable to burn the cards and request Alma's help. Alma summons the astrologer's spirit, but the astrologer does a reading on her and kills her with the [[Six of Swords]]. The Magician lures Paige into the basement and hypnotizes her. She hides in a box but gets locked inside, and The Magician fatally saws her in half. Desperate, Haley comes up with the idea to read the astrologer's horoscope. As Grant is dragged away by The Devil, Haley does a reading on the astrologer, giving her Death. Eventually, Haley lets go of the grief from her mother's death. The astrologer's spirit is burned alongside the deck.

Haley and Grant reconcile over their survival. They reunite with Paxton, who survived thanks to his roommate opening the elevator door and making The Fool disappear.

== Cast ==
* [[Harriet Slater (actress)|Harriet Slater]] as Haley
* Adain Bradley as Grant
* [[Jacob Batalon]] as Paxton
* [[Avantika (actress)|Avantika]] as Paige
* [[Humberly González]] as Madeline
* [[Wolfgang Novogratz]] as Lucas
* [[Larsen Thompson]] as Elise
* [[Olwen Fouéré]] as Alma

== Production ==
''[[Deadline Hollywood]]'' reported the production of ''Horrorscope'' in June 2022, with [[Jacob Batalon]], [[Alana Boden]], [[Avantika Vandanapu]], Adain Bradley joining the cast.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2022-06-28 |title=Jacob Batalon, Alana Boden, Adain Bradley and Avantika To Star In Screen Gems' 'Horrorscope' |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/jacob-batalon-alana-boden-adain-bradley-avantika-screem-gems-horrorscope-1235053040/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=June 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606005124/https://deadline.com/2022/06/jacob-batalon-alana-boden-adain-bradley-avantika-screem-gems-horrorscope-1235053040/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film was directed and written by [[Spenser Cohen]] and Anna Halberg, based on 
[[John Peel (writer)#Written as "Nicholas Adams"|Nicholas Adams]]'s 1992 novel of the same name.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=2020-06-26 |title=Screen Gems Lands Alloy Entertainment Novel 'Horrorscope;' Anna Halberg & Spenser Cohen To Script |url=https://deadline.com/2020/06/screen-gems-alloy-entertainment-horrorscope-anna-halberg-spenser-cohen-script-1202970038/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027191246/https://deadline.com/2020/06/screen-gems-alloy-entertainment-horrorscope-anna-halberg-spenser-cohen-script-1202970038/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ground Control's Scott Glassgold produced through [[Alloy Entertainment]], together with [[Leslie Morgenstein]] and Elysa Koplovitz Dutton. Halberg and Cohen served as executive producers.<ref name=":2" /> [[Screen Gems]] also produced the film.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hamman |first=Cody |date=2023-05-18 |title=Horrorscope: Jacob Batalon horror film lands June 2024 release date |url=https://www.joblo.com/horrorscope-2024/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=JoBlo |language=en-US |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027175949/https://www.joblo.com/horrorscope-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVore |first=Britta |date=2022-06-28 |title='Horrorscope' Taps Jacob Batalon, Avantika, Alana Boden & Adain Bradley as Leads |url=https://collider.com/horrorscope-cast-jacob-batalon-avantika-alana-boden-adain-bradley/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104075725/https://collider.com/horrorscope-cast-jacob-batalon-avantika-alana-boden-adain-bradley/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2022, Humberly González joined the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Castaneda |first=Tom |date=2022-07-02 |title=Humberly González to Star in Screen Gems & Alloy Entertainment's Thriller "Horrorscope" |url=https://www.hispanicallyyours.com/humberly-gonzalez-to-star-in-screen-gems-alloy-entertainments-thriller-horrorscope/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027175952/https://www.hispanicallyyours.com/humberly-gonzalez-to-star-in-screen-gems-alloy-entertainments-thriller-horrorscope/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2022, [[Harriet Slater (actress)|Harriet Slater]] joined the cast.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2022-10-28 |title='Horrorscope': 'Pennyworth's Harriet Slater Latest To Join Horror Pic From Screen Gems, Alloy Entertainment |url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/horrorscope-harriet-slater-joins-screen-gems-alloy-ent-horror-film-1235157590/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822213410/https://deadline.com/2022/10/horrorscope-harriet-slater-joins-screen-gems-alloy-ent-horror-film-1235157590/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Filming took place in [[Belgrade]], Serbia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/larsen-thompson-million|title=Larsen Thompson Finds Her Own Spotlight with 'Million'|last=Boardman|first=Mickey|work=[[Paper (magazine)|Paper]]|date=March 16, 2023|access-date=July 18, 2024|archive-date=July 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718181719/https://www.papermag.com/larsen-thompson-million|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Production design]] was by New Zealand production designer [[Felicity Abbott]].<ref name=aftrs>{{cite web | title=Felicity Abbott | website=Australian Film Television and Radio School | date=2 December 2025 | url=https://www.aftrs.edu.au/alumni/alumni-showcase/felicity-abbott/ | access-date=3 March 2026}}</ref>

In January 2024, the film was renamed to ''Tarot''.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1752330833174667265|user=SonyPictures|title=Whose face will you see when you take your last breath? @TarotMovie is coming exclusively to theaters this May. #TarotMovie|date=January 30, 2024}}</ref>

== Release ==
''Tarot'' was originally scheduled to be released on June 28, 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2023-05-16 |title=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' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/my-ex-friends-wedding-horroscope-set-release-dates-with-sony-1235369357/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517000105/https://deadline.com/2023/05/my-ex-friends-wedding-horroscope-set-release-dates-with-sony-1235369357/ |url-status=live }}</ref> before being moved up to May 10, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 7, 2023|last=Squires|first=John|title=Sony's Horror Movie ''Horrorscope'' Moves Into May 2024 Release Date|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3791545/sonys-horror-movie-horrorscope-moves-into-may-2024-release-date|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|access-date=December 7, 2023|archive-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208004440/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3791545/sonys-horror-movie-horrorscope-moves-into-may-2024-release-date/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was later moved to May 3, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 6, 2024|title=Theatrical Release Changes for the Week Ending March 10, 2024|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/release-schedule-changes|website=The Numbers|access-date=March 6, 2024|archive-date=March 6, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306140931/https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/release-schedule-changes|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
{{As of|2024|8|2|df=US}}, ''Tarot'' has grossed $18.8&nbsp;million in the United States and Canada and $30.3&nbsp;million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $49.1&nbsp;million.<ref name="BOM" /><ref name="NUM" />

In the United States and Canada, ''Tarot'' was released alongside ''[[The Fall Guy (2024 film)|The Fall Guy]]'', and was projected to gross $5–6 million from 3,104 theaters in its opening weekend.<ref name="varietyopening">{{cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |title=Box Office Preview: 'The Fall Guy' Eyes $30 Million-Plus Debut as Summer Movie Season Revs Up |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/box-office-preview-fall-guy-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt-tarot-1235987322/ |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=January 6, 2024 |date=April 30, 2024 |archive-date=May 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508145228/https://variety.com/2024/film/news/box-office-preview-fall-guy-ryan-gosling-emily-blunt-tarot-1235987322/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film made $2.5 million on its first day, including $715,000 from preview screenings. It went on to debut at $6.3 million, finishing in fourth.<ref name=opening>{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=May 5, 2024 |title='The Fall Guy' Tripping To $28M Opening – Sunday AM Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-the-fall-guy-ryan-gosling-1235903586/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=May 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505014447/https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-the-fall-guy-ryan-gosling-1235903586/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The film made $3.4 million in its second weekend (a drop of 47.7%) and $2 million in its third, finishing in fourth and seventh place, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |first=Anthony |last=D'Alessandro |title='Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes' Roaring To $55M-$56M Opening After Strong Saturday – Sunday AM Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-1235911118/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 12, 2024 |access-date=May 12, 2024 |archive-date=May 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510045514/https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-1235911118/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-if-back-to-black-amy-winehouse-strangers-2-1235920634/|title=' IF' Rises To $34M+, 'Strangers: Chapter 1' Strong At Near $12M, 'Back To Black' Goes Belly-Up At $2.8M – Sunday Box Office Update|date=May 19, 2024|first=Anthony|last=D'Alessandro|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=May 19, 2024|archive-date=May 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517154039/https://deadline.com/2024/05/box-office-if-back-to-black-amy-winehouse-strangers-2-1235920634/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is  considered a box office success.<ref name="Dick"/>

===Critical response===
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|17|4.20|63|consensus=Reshuffling well-worn tropes to dismaying effect, ''Tarot''{{'}}s fate is decidedly dour.|access-date=September 12, 2024|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|36|12|ref=yes|access-date=May 18, 2024}} Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "C–" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by [[PostTrak]] gave it a 59% overall positive score.<ref name=opening/>

Benjamin Lee of [[The Guardian|''The Guardian'']] gave the film 2/5 stars, writing, "Flashes of competence are not enough to distract from a sense of crushing pointlessness, more watery slop served up lukewarm for undemanding Friday night horror fans, who really ought to be demanding so much more."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Benjamin |date=2024-05-03 |title=Tarot review – disappointment is in the cards with silly supernatural horror |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/03/tarot-horror-movie-review |access-date=2025-02-04 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']]'s Todd Gilchrist said the film "repeatedly leverages the genre's laziest mood-setting and suspense-building devices to keep its audience on the edge of their seats."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilchrist |first=Todd |date=2024-05-02 |title='Tarot' Review: A Cursed Card Game Leaves No Horror Cliché Unturned |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/tarot-review-jacob-batalon-1235990805/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> [[IGN]]'s Jesse Hassenger gave it 2/10 stars, saying, "''Tarot'' seems perpetually uncertain about whether it should play its thinly conceived premise for laughs, or actually pursue real scares. It winds up with neither, stumbling around in the dark and turning its small ensemble into a crude means of timekeeping for its surprisingly sluggish 90-minute runtime."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hassenger |first=Jesse |date=2024-05-02 |title=Tarot Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/tarot-review |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

Alison Foreman of ''[[IndieWire]]'' gave the film a B grade, writing, "Cohen and Halberg manage an admirable faith in their own movie -- delivering consistently delightful kills in a soapy story that doesn't seem insecure until the very end."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foreman |first=Alison |date=2024-05-06 |title='Tarot' Review: Spine-Snapping Melodrama Does Haunted Party Games Proud |url=https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/tarot-review-sony-horror-movie-1234999415/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=IndieWire |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Accolades==
Felicity Abbott won the Docklands Studios Melbourne Award for Best Production Design at the 2025 [[APDG Awards|ADPG Awards]] for her work on the film.<ref name=aftrs/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.tarotmovie.com/}}
* {{IMDb title}}


[[Category:2024 films]]
[[Category:2024 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2024 horror films]]
[[Category:2024 American films]]
[[Category:2024 English-language films]]
[[Category:2020s ghost films]]
[[Category:2020s supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Alloy Entertainment films]]
[[Category:American ghost films]]
[[Category:American supernatural horror films]]
[[Category:Catskills in fiction]]
[[Category:Demons in film]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]
[[Category:Fiction about tarot]]
[[Category:Films about astrology]]
[[Category:Films about curses]]
[[Category:Films based on horror novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Spenser Cohen]]
[[Category:Films scored by Joseph Bishara]]
[[Category:Films set in country houses]]
[[Category:Films set in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Belgrade]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Spenser Cohen]]
[[Category:Screen Gems films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Tarot (2024 American film)|access_date=2026-03-06}}