Netflix Occult Horror Hated By Critics Is A Surprise Hit
The first rule of Tarot is: never use someone else’s deck. The characters in this Netflix surprise hit break this rule right out of the gate, and then are forced to face the consequences, Battling their fortunes come to life, a group of friends fight tarot demons in a struggle to save their lives. The relatively unknown cast is plunged right into a series of horrific encounters, dragging the audience immediately into their mortal clash with the supernatural.
Tarot
Drawing the ire of critics, who blast the film for being too simplistic, lacking character development, and being unimaginative, Tarot found unexpected success on Netflix, reaching the number 3 most watched position.
With critics calling the film a terrible, astrological version of Final Destination, and raking it over the coals as a forgettable teen horror movie, it seemed unlikely that it would have much success as it transitioned to streaming, but Netflix audiences seem to love it.
Baffled by the film’s success on streaming, critics wonder what made audiences flock to it despite their warnings.
Nineties Vibes
In answer to the confusion that many critics are expressing as to the success of the film, the 90s nostalgia feel that the movie evokes is a big part of the answer. Tarot brings together both a contemporary teen horror audience as well as an older, millennial one to Netflix, broadening its appeal with a PG-13 rating for a family movie night crowd.
It’s not surprising that Tarot brings a 90s vibe to its audience, given that it’s loosely based on the 1992 novel, Horoscope by Nicholas Adams.
Dodging Fate
Jump scares abound in true 90s fashion as Tarot brings its audience through a series of death scenarios, bringing the fortunes told in the cards to life. The characters must attempt to avoid their fates as they try to figure out what’s happening to them.
While the premise is, as critics have noted, unoriginal, the teen slasher genre with a hint of tongue-in-cheek comedy has come off well for fans of the film.
A PG-13 Slasher
Critics bashed Tarot for its contrived dialogue, while the Netflix audience that seems to appreciate the film like that the movie doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Expecting to see a serious, dark, and truly scary horror film, you might be disappointed by Tarot, but the draw for its streaming fans is its callbacks and campy, slasher quality. Although the gore needs to be kept to a moderate level due to the film’s PG-13 rating, it maintains its overall slasher feel.
Stream It Now
Tarot wasn’t just a breakaway hit on Netflix, it was also a sleeper hit at the box office, raking in a surprise $20.2 million at the box office. A lack of a robust marketing campaign set the movie back at opening, as did its reported small budget of just $8 million, but it outstripped its opening expectations with a $6.5 million dollar take.
It’s not so remarkable that after a better-than-expected box office reception Tarot would have a better-than-expected Netflix reception as well.
