Tarot Review

“There’s an unspoken rule not to use anyone else’s cards” – Haley

Oh, but if it’s an unspoken rule, who told Haley?

Tarot cards are something that’s piqued my interest over the years. But I’ve never bought a set, I’ve never had a reading done. I don’t mess with them, in the same spirit (sorry, that was intentional) that I’d never mess with a Ouija board. I feel I’ve already got enough dead people pissed at me without upsetting them further.

But sadly, a group of college kids who’ve Air B&B’d a mansion just don’t have the same wariness I do, which in a way is a good thing, because if they did, and just didn’t open the box they found while snooping around looking for booze, this film wouldn’t exist – and that would be a shame, because I had an awesome time watching it. Okay, that gives the game away that I really liked this one, and honestly what’s not to like? It plays like a horror movie from the eighties, with a strong vibe of the Final Destination movies with a touch of the House on Haunted Hill remake. (That last one came from Steve, and he’s right – I can see it.)

The teens open a locked cellar door, hunting for some alcoholic beverages because they’ve run out of their own supply, it’s a weekend away celebrating the birthday of one of their group. They find a large collection of astrology related artefacts and paraphernalia. In a glass cabinet, they find a small wooden box, and inside there’s a set of very old, hand painted tarot cards. So, in the absence of any party drinks, they decide instead to have one their number, Haley (Harriet Slater, last seen way down deep in the cast of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) has some skill with tarot cards, and is persuaded to give each of the group a reading. This is despite knowing, as the opening quote of this review shows, that she knows full well that it’s a bad idea to use someone else’s deck. A REALLY bad idea. Even more so if the deck you’re messing around with is cursed.

Each participant has a circle of cards dealt, and a final card placed in the middle – this is the final outcome card. All of the readings could have double meanings, depending on their interpretation. An example is one reading is that the person whose future is being read is warned to keep away from the wrong side of the tracks, he unwittingly steps on the wrong side of a railroad and is splattered by an oncoming train – that kind of thing. Obviously, this is where the Final Destination vibe comes from.

Each of the final outcome cards features a really grotesque image of its subject, the Fool card shows one of the most nightmarish clowns I’ve seen on film – and that’s counting the Killer Klowns from Outer Space, Pennywise and the Terrifier movies. Others include a Magician, the Hanged Man, the Devil and Death, all of which manifest themselves to their victims. The make up effects on these manifestations is nothing short of amazing. The creatures are used sparingly, seen only in flashes, but boy, they make an impact.

There’s an eerie tone to the movie, and plenty of sustained tension. Some genuinely inventive moments, especially in a scene where the cast are in a stalled vehicle in the dark, a hanged man is drawn on the steamed-up passenger side window, with the word “run” appearing underneath and the car sensors being tripped by something close by – but nothing can be seen.

It’s a film that delivers more than the trailer promises, and it’s always good to come away from a movie having enjoyed it even more than anticipated and this one fully satisfies.

Recommended viewing.

Rob Rating = 9