Plot Summary
A group of college friends—Haley, Grant, Paxton, Paige, Madeline, Lucas, and Elise—decide to celebrate Elise’s birthday by renting a mansion nestled in the picturesque Catskills. However, the atmosphere is tense due to the recent breakup between Haley and Grant. To break the silence, they stumble upon an old box of tarot cards in the basement and persuade Haley to read their horoscopes. The results are eerie: Elise receives The High Priestess; Lucas faces The Hermit; Madeline draws The Hanged Man; Paige gets The Magician; and Paxton ends up with The Fool. Grant pulls The Devil, and Haley draws the ominous Death card.
The following day, the friends return to campus, but horror strikes when Elise is brutally attacked and killed by a monstrous incarnation of The High Priestess using an attic ladder as a weapon. Lucas later suffers a similar fate, being slain by The Hermit at a train station. The grim reality sets in as each death frighteningly aligns with their tarot card readings. The friends, fearing for their lives, seek answers from Alma Astron, a tarot expert they discovered online. Alma unveils a dark history about the cards, revealing that they were once owned by an astrologer in the late 18th century. This astrologer had a tragic past involving a Hungarian Count whose grief led him to have the astrologer’s daughter murdered after a dire prediction about his wife and child came true. Enraged and heartbroken, the astrologer cursed her deck, vowing it would bring death to whoever dared to use it.
Alma warns the friends that they must destroy the cursed cards, still held within the mansion. However, their journey back is fraught with peril. Their car breaks down, and Madeline falls victim to The Hanged Man. In a state of fright, Paxton hurriedly makes his way back to campus alone, yet he finds himself haunted by The Fool. Meanwhile, Haley, Grant, and Paige return to the mansion in a desperate effort to burn the cards, but their attempts fail. They turn to Alma for assistance, but tragedy strikes once again when the astrologer’s spirit kills her after performing a fatal reading with the Six of Swords.
The horror continues as Paige meets a gruesome end at the hands of The Magician, being literally sawed in half. Determined to bring an end to this nightmare, Haley believes that reading the astrologer’s horoscope might hold the key to their survival. As Grant is dragged away by The Devil, she performs a reading that fates the astrologer with Death. In a climactic moment of emotional release, Haley confronts her own grief over her mother’s passing. This catharsis brings closure, allowing the astrologer’s spirit to be burned alongside the cursed deck. In the aftermath, Haley and Grant rekindle their relationship, and they reunite with Paxton, who narrowly escaped his fate when his roommate saved him by opening the elevator door just in time, causing The Fool to vanish. The friends emerge from their ordeal, relief washing over them, having survived the terrifying night and the curse that once held them in its grip.
Timeline
Elise's Birthday Celebration
A group of college friends gathers to celebrate Elise's birthday by renting a mansion in the scenic Catskills. Tensions rise due to Haley and Grant's recent breakup, casting a shadow over the festivities.
Discovery of the Tarot Cards
To lighten the mood, the friends find an old box of tarot cards in the basement. They convince Haley to read their horoscopes, leading to eerie predictions that foreshadow their grim fates.
Tarot Card Predictions
As each friend draws their tarot cards, the results are hauntingly ominous. Grant pulls The Devil, while Haley draws the Death card, setting a chilling undertone for what is to come.
Elise's Attack and Death
Tragedy strikes the following day when Elise is attacked and brutally killed by a monstrous version of The High Priestess. The horrific act occurs with an attic ladder, a stark reminder of their doomed fates.
Lucas's Fatal Encounter
Lucas suffers a similarly horrific fate when he is slaughtered by The Hermit at a train station. The killings begin to align with their tarot readings, amplifying the group's fear.
Consulting the Tarot Expert
The friends, terrified and desperate for answers, seek help from Alma Astron, a tarot expert they found online. Alma reveals the dark history behind the cards, linking them to a tragic past of murder and a curse.
Warning of the Curse
Alma warns the friends that they must destroy the cursed tarot cards still located in the mansion. Knowing the peril they face, they rush back, but their journey proves to be full of ominous obstacles.
Madeline's Death
As the friends head back, Madeline is tragically claimed by The Hanged Man. This harrowing event deepens the group's sense of doom and heightens their urgency to destroy the tarot cards.
Paxton's Haunting and Escape
Feeling overwhelmed, Paxton decides to rush back to campus alone. However, he is haunted by The Fool, threatening his very existence as he makes a desperate attempt to escape.
Failed Attempt to Burn the Cards
Haley, Grant, and Paige return to the mansion to burn the cursed tarot cards, but their efforts fail disastrously. Realizing the gravity of their situation, they reach out to Alma for assistance once more.
Alma's Fatal Reading
As the friends turn to Alma for help, tragedy strikes once again when the spirit of the astrologer kills her following a reading with the Six of Swords. This leaves the group in a dire situation with fewer allies.
Paige's Gruesome Death
In a horrifying turn of events, Paige meets her gruesome end at the hands of The Magician, who literally saws her in half. This shocking moment leaves the remaining friends panicking and vulnerable.
Haley's Last-Ditch Effort
Desperate to end the cycle of death, Haley believes that reading the astrologer's horoscope might reveal a path to survival. With Grant being dragged away by The Devil, she tries to confront the dark forces at play.
Confrontation with Grief
In a climactic moment, Haley confronts her feelings of grief regarding her mother’s death while reading the horoscope. This emotional release enables her to bring closure and potentially battle the curse.
Surviving the Nightmare
Finally, the astrologer's spirit is destroyed alongside the cursed deck, allowing the remaining friends to escape the horror. As they emerge from the mansion, Haley and Grant rekindle their relationship, and relief washes over the group.
Characters
Haley (Harriet Slater)
Haley emerges as a resilient character faced with the remnants of her past and the fear of losing her friends. Her journey reflects personal growth as she processes her grief and ultimately becomes the catalyst for breaking the curse that haunts them.
Grant (Adain Bradley)
Grant is characterized by his emotional turmoil following his breakup with Haley, which adds tension to the group dynamic. His struggle with both personal and supernatural crisis leads to a significant character arc, especially as he confronts the embodiment of The Devil.
Paxton (Jacob Batalon)
Paxton represents the loyal friend who grapples with fear but ultimately seeks to protect his group. His close call with death underscores his importance within the circle as he strives to reunite with Haley and Grant after the chaos unfolds.
Setting
Time period
Late 18th Century
The curse of the tarot deck originates from a troubled time in the late 18th century, where superstitions ran high and the impact of fortune-telling was seen as both hopeful and fearful. During this period, an astrologer's tragic prediction about a Hungarian Count results in a series of dark events that culminate in a deadly curse.
Location
Catskills, Mansion
The story unfolds in the serene yet ominous setting of the Catskills, known for its lush landscapes and mountain views, attracting those seeking tranquility. Within this picturesque region lies an old mansion that adds an air of mystery, harboring secrets tied to a cursed tarot deck that brings death to its users.
Themes
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Fate
Fate plays a crucial role in the narrative as the characters' destinies are dictated by their tarot card readings. Each friend faces a grim reality corresponding to the eerie fortune they receive, leading to a battle for survival against predetermined doom laid out by the cards.
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Grief
Grief is a central theme, especially for Haley, who must confront her feelings about her mother's death throughout the ordeal. The emotional release she experiences while facing her past becomes a pivotal moment that allows her to break the curse and find closure.
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Destruction of Evil
The theme of destruction of evil manifests as the friends seek to rid themselves of the cursed tarot deck. Their attempts to burn the cards highlight the necessity of confronting dark forces to reclaim their lives, ultimately leading to a powerful resolution.
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