Is there any actual 'gore' in this movie?

Not really. It stays firmly in PG-13 territory. You'll see characters being pulled into shadows or falling from heights, but the camera usually cuts away before anything graphic happens. It's more about the 'scare' than the 'blood'.

Does it promote real Tarot reading?

It uses Tarot as a plot device for a curse, much like Ouija did with board games. It doesn't actually teach how to read cards; it mostly just makes them look like creepy conduits for monsters.

Is it too scary for a 12-year-old?

It depends on the kid. If they've seen Stranger Things, they can handle this. If they are prone to nightmares about monsters under the bed, the creature designs in Tarot might linger a bit too long in their imagination.

Tarot – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Tarot

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2024

32%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A visually stylish but ultimately hollow horror flick that treats Tarot cards like a deck of death warrants.

17%

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Tarot

movie

PG-13, 2024

32%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A visually stylish but ultimately hollow horror flick that treats Tarot cards like a deck of death warrants.

17%

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Screenwise Verdict

Tarot is the cinematic equivalent of a haunted house at a local fair: it’s got some cool costumes and a few loud noises, but you’ll forget about it the second you walk out the exit. It’s not 'bad' in a way that’s harmful, it’s just boringly predictable.

For a teen who is just starting to explore horror, the PG-13 guardrails make it a relatively safe bet. But if you’re looking for a movie with actual substance or a story that makes sense, you’re better off looking elsewhere. It’s junk food horror—fine for a one-time snack, but don't expect it to stick with you.

Age Fit

Strictly for the 13-16 crowd. It's too formulaic for most adults to enjoy, but it hits the 'spooky but not scarring' sweet spot for middle and high schoolers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a standard slasher flick where friends are picked off one by one. While the group tries to help each other, the tone is mostly dread and impending doom rather than anything particularly healthy or cooperative.

Imaginative

The concept of turning specific Tarot archetypes (The High Priestess, The Hermit, The Fool) into physical monsters is visually interesting, but the movie doesn't do much with the lore beyond using them as generic killers.

Safe

It's PG-13, so it avoids extreme gore and sexual content. However, it's built entirely on jump scares and the 'inevitability of death,' which can be intense for younger or more sensitive viewers.

Enriching

There's very little to take away here. It’s disposable entertainment that doesn't offer much in the way of ethical puzzles, character growth, or meaningful themes.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Monster design is the highlight here; each Tarot creature has a distinct, creepy look that stands out from typical movie monsters.
It works as a 'gateway horror' for teens who aren't ready for R-rated gore but want something more intense than Goosebumps.
The short runtime means it doesn't overstay its welcome, making it a decent pick for a low-stakes sleepover movie.

⚠

What to Watch For

The jump scares are frequent and loud. If your kid hates 'stingers' that rely on volume rather than tension, this will be annoying.
The Hanged Man scene is arguably the most disturbing sequence in the film; it's more claustrophobic and grim than the others.
The movie leans heavily into occult imagery. If your family is sensitive to themes involving astrology, divination, or curses, this is a skip.

Conversation Starters

"Do you think the characters could have changed their fate, or was it set in stone the moment they read the cards?"
"Why do you think horror movies always start with someone breaking a 'sacred rule'?"
"If you had to design a monster based on a different card game or board game, what would it look like?"

Deep Dive

The 'Final Destination' for the Astrology Crowd

Tarot feels like it was built in a lab to appeal to the Gen Z interest in astrology and divination, but it forgets to bring a compelling script along for the ride. The premise is simple: a group of college friends rents a mansion (naturally) and finds a deck of hand-painted Tarot cards. They break the cardinal rule of using someone else's deck, and suddenly they are being hunted by the entities depicted on the cards.

While the movie sits at a dismal 17% on Rotten Tomatoes, there is a specific audience that will actually dig it. If your kid is into the 'dark academia' aesthetic or spends time in the spookier corners of TikTok, they’ll appreciate the visual flair. The monsters, designed with a tactile, puppet-like quality, are genuinely cool to look at.

However, the characters are paper-thin. You know exactly who is going to die and in what order based on the cards they draw. There’s no subversion of tropes here—just a straight line from point A to point B. If you're looking for a better version of this 'inevitable death' concept, Final Destination (though much gorier) or It Follows are far superior. Tarot is what you put on when you want something spooky in the background while you're on your phone.

What Parents Ask

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