Overlooked Horror Film 'Tarot' Surges into Netflix UK Top 10 Chart
The supernatural horror film Tarot, which initially premiered in 2024, has made a dramatic entrance into the Netflix UK Top 10 chart this week. This unexpected climb comes as fans enthusiastically praise the previously neglected thriller for delivering what many describe as genuinely terrifying jump scares, sparking renewed interest in the cinematic adaptation.
A Supernatural Tale Based on a Classic Novel
Adapted from Nicholas Adams' 1992 novel Horrorscope, the film is directed by Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg. It features a cast of young actors including Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Avantika, Wolfgang Novogratz, Humberly González, Larsen Thompson, and Jacob Batalon. They portray a group of university students whose lives take a dark turn after they recklessly tamper with an unusual and cursed deck of tarot cards.
The official synopsis sets the eerie stage: "When a group of friends recklessly violates the sacred rule of Tarot readings - never use someone else's deck - they unknowingly unleash an unspeakable evil trapped within the cursed cards. One by one, they come face to face with fate and end up in a race against death to escape the future foretold in their readings."
Critical Reception Versus Audience Enthusiasm
Despite its current streaming success, Tarot received predominantly unfavourable responses from professional critics upon its initial release. It holds a modest Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 17%. However, the film demonstrated notable resilience, performing strongly at the box office regardless of the critical panning. This dichotomy between critical opinion and audience appeal has become even more pronounced with its Netflix debut.
Enthusiastic viewers have flooded social media and review platforms with glowing testimonials, as reported by outlets like the Express. Many are hailing it as a "genuinely scary" and "amazing" fresh entry to the horror genre.
Fan Reactions: Praise for Scares and Defence Against Critics
The audience feedback presents a stark contrast to the critical scores. One viewer emphatically stated: "Honestly, best horror movie of the year so far. The acting is okay, the plot is okay. But the jump scares did what they had to do. Would definitely recommend watching if you like horror films."
Another fan urged others to look past the reviews, writing: "Underrated. Don't trust the critics reviews for Tarot. Interesting story and solid acting. The kill scene with the Magician is as good as any other PG13 horror scene. Would've love to see a rated R version of Tarot."
Further praise highlighted the film's effective use of horror elements. "Right amount of gore, monster variety, spooky moments," one fan noted, while another simply declared: "Great Movie! ! ! Will make you jump!!"
Additional supportive comments included: "It was a great film. Solid with lots of jump scares! Whilst the newcomers feel fresh, they do a good job and keep up with the story," and "Genuinely scary. For anyone that is familiar with tarot cards." Some viewers shared their personal enjoyment, with one gushing: "AMAZING! My friends and I absolutely loved this movie! Totally worth it!" and another reflecting: "Wasn't expecting outcome! I absolutely loved this movie. My daughters loved it to. A must see actual scary movie."
Dissenting Voices and Balanced Perspectives
Not all feedback has been positive, providing a more balanced view of the film's reception. Some viewers found it lacking, with one commenting: "Just an ok movie with a couple jump thrills. It definitely was not the best acting either. I went on discount day so for the price it was worth it."
Others were more critical of its horror credentials, stating: "Not scary at all. Predictable," and "Not a very good movie. Had potential but fell extremely short of any real horror."
Nevertheless, numerous fans have risen to the film's defence against its low critical rating. One such defender argued: "Movie was really good. Plenty of scares and the storytelling was well written. Much better than some of the scarier movies out lately. Does not deserve the rating it's getting now."
Availability and Streaming Context
Tarot is available to stream now on Netflix in the UK. Its chart success coincides with promotional offers from providers like Sky, which is currently giving away a free Netflix subscription with its new Sky Stream TV bundles. These bundles, starting from an Essential TV plan at £15, allow members to watch live and on-demand content without a satellite dish, including popular Netflix series.
The film's journey from a critically panned cinema release to a streaming chart-topper underscores the sometimes vast divide between professional critique and audience taste, particularly within the horror genre where effective jump scares can often trump narrative depth for many viewers.
