A group of twenty-somethings have rented a "literal" mansion (I wish writers would find out what that word means and use it properly!) and are having a few fireside beers outside it whilst subjecting us to their dull relationship issues. Needless to say the gang are a politically correct assemblage that tick just about every box and are frankly all pretty well deserving of what's to come. On that front, the clue's in the title. Exploring the house looking to top up their supply of booze, they find a locked room full of all things occult and that includes an unique set of tarot cards. Rather foolishly, but typically disparagingly, they demand that "Haley" (Harriet Slater) read their fortunes. Next thing they are dropping like flies - all in a manner they gradually realise is akin to the results of the tarot reading. As they gruesomely dwindle, they realise that they are going to need some help and so thanks to Google spook, they find a woman (Olwen Fouéré) who informs them of the bleak history of their toxic tarot and tells them that the cards' destruction might be their only road to salvation. Thing is, can they survive long enough to get back to the house? There's nothing at all original here, sorry. We've seen it loads of times before and the uninteresting dynamic between the characters is even more predictable than the denouement. To be fair, the candle-lit visual effects are quite effective at times, but the acting is pretty dreadful and the whole frat-like presentation left me looking at the clock after half an hour. It's a shame. The whole astrology and mythology surrounding the tarot could have offered us a rich vein to tap into and exploit, but here we simply get a rather lazy and formulaic light-horror enterprise that's really devoid of much imagination. Literally.

"Tarot," directed by Marielle Heller, is a captivating supernatural thriller that delves into the world of tarot card reading. Anya Taylor-Joy shines as the lead, portraying a character whose life becomes entangled with the predictions of a mystical tarot deck. The film's atmospheric visuals and compelling narrative keep viewers engaged, blending suspense and drama effectively. Supported by strong performances from Willem Dafoe and Tilda Swinton, "Tarot" explores themes of fate and self-discovery with a thought-provoking script. Overall, it's a visually stunning and engaging film that offers a fresh take on supernatural storytelling.

The best thing I can say is this wasn't terrible. Just not good either and should've leaned into a mix of horror and comedy which they briefly did at the very end. Otherwise there's nothing that stands out from the bland characters and visual effects that look like leftovers from The Conjuring Universe. Nothing memorable and lands right there with other poor supernatural-horror flicks like Truth or Dare and Ouija. **2.0/5**