Now on Netflix: A Horror Movie Critics Call “A wholly entertaining and unpretentious good time”
We’re living in the age of elevated horror. Films like The Babadook and Hereditary have informed a new chapter in genre cinema. This new wave of thought-provoking films undoubtedly lends the genre more credibility with critics and provides viewers with ample food for thought. However, some of us (including several members of the Dread Central team) miss the kind of mindless horror movies that used to dominate multiplexes a couple of decades ago.
In retrospect, it’s easy to see that the ‘00s delivered plenty of films that served up formulaic yet engaging scares without requiring the audience to think too deeply. These motion pictures lacked pretense, but often proved thoroughly entertaining. Perhaps it’s time for a resurgence of this brand of cinema. Filmmakers Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg sure seem to think so.
The directors recently proved their fondness for the exports of the ‘00s via their oft-maligned, but undeniably enjoyable horror throwback, Tarot. If you’re in the mood for a trashy good time, you can currently catch the film on Netflix!
Tarot catches up with a group of friends who book an Airbnb in a remote locale and happen upon a tarot card deck in a locked basement. When the lead character, Haley (Harriet Slater), begins giving her pals readings, the predictions prove eerily prophetic. One by one, the characters succumb to inventive and highly memorable demises, proving that some doors are meant to stay locked.
As I mentioned previously, Team Dread really connected with this one. In fact, we even gave the film the inaugural Brat Award in 2024. Additionally, staff members Josh Korngut and Chad Collins have each taken care to lovingly praise the film as a welcome throwback to a bygone era.
Josh had the following to say in his theatrical review: “Tarot is a fun return to 2000s-era spookshows like Stay Alive and Thirteen Ghosts; a wholly entertaining and unpretentious good time.”
Chad had a similar take, pitching the flick as a quality PG-13 horror film that never takes itself too seriously. His coverage reads, in part: “Tarot is a gem that feels like it belongs to a bygone era. And maybe that’s the start of a trend. Festival release Witchboard was similarly swimming in 1990s and early aughts vibes. Horror is often cyclical, so if the cards suggest a return to horrors past, I think I’d be more than okay with that.”
Believe it or not, our appreciation for the film doesn’t stop there, dear reader. We also endeavored to interview musician Daniel Knox about the original song, ‘I Saw You,’ that he recorded for the film. You can read all about that right here!
As you can see, we at Dread Central have a serious soft spot for this one. If you think you might be one of us, navigate to Netflix, where Tarot is currently streaming!
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