Tarot cards have a rich and varied history dating back over 500 years to Italy and eventually spreading throughout much of Europe. Originally meant for playing games some cultures created decks for divination and cartomancy. Some claim to trace the practice back to Egypt, Kabbalah, etc. while others believe the Romani first used the cards for fortune-telling. Regardless of their beginning, in the United States, they are most frequently used to "read" one's past, present, and future and have a certain mystique incorporated with their use. Because of this belief, they sometimes find their way into horror films and are the catalyst behind this year's movie, Tarot.
When a group of seven friends - Haley (Harriet Slater; Pennyworth), Grant (Adain Bradley; Wrong Turn), Paxton (Jacob Battalion; Spider-Man: No Way Home), Paige (Avantika; Spin), Madeline (Humbly González; Ginny & Georgia), Lucas (Wolfgang Novogratz; The Half of It), and Elise (Larsen Thompson; Pearl) - rent a mansion in the Catskills mountains to celebrate Elise's birthday, they get more than they expected. Reeling from the news of Haley's and Grant's breakup and out of booze the group explores the house and finds a locked door leading to a basement full of creepy relics. Finding a deck of Tarot cards, Haley reads everyone's fortunes to pass the time. However, The cards were more than just some old deck and the consequences of using them were dire as members of the group keep getting killed.
If you have seen 2009's Final Destination, you have the basic premise of Tarot. Each friend is haunted by the figure based on the dominant Tarot card from their reading. As an example, Paxton is chased by the fool and ends up stuck in an elevator as his reading has him "boxed in".
Sadly, the plot is not the only thing that is recycled. Writers Spenser Cohen (The Expendables 4), Anna Halberg (Extinction), and newcomer Nicholas Adams use several clichés and common phrases that make the dialogue boring at best, and cringeworthy at worst. There is nothing in the script that is overly earth-shattering or unique.
The best part of this combo pack is the technical aspects. With a 1080p resolution and 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the visuals are clean and sharp. The cards are well illustrated and their real-life counterparts are detailed making them creepy as heck. Color saturation is good and blacks are deep and true.
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is the star of this film. I can't remember the last time I heard more robust and clear sounds that utilize every speaker to its fullest. I was so impressed I thought I was listening to a Dolby Atmos track. I would even be inclined to put this movie on and close my eyes just to listen to the sound of creatures moving from one side of the room (and from speaker to speaker) to the other. The audio is easily the most spectacular part of this Blu-ray. There are only three extras in the combo pack - two featurettes and the bloopers. They are A Twist of Fate: Making the Film, Circle of Friends, and Killer Outtakes.
Tarot is not a great film but its saving grace is the decent cast. The Blu-ray release is not that much to write home about either unless you want to become a sound editor. If the latter is true, then this release is a master class in crisp, clean, precise sound effects that cut across the speakers from left to right, right to left, front to back, and vice versa.
I can't exactly recommend this movie but the Blu-ray is technically very good. I hope Sony uses the same transfer with future film releases.
Grade: C-
