Death of a Unicorn Review
A24 has constantly proven themselves as the indie flick giant with its roster of crazy, yet fun, horror films. From Ti West’s X films to Talk To Me, Midsommar, and more, you never know what insane concepts A24 will pull out in theaters next. Though the studio planned its return with Opus earlier this year, it didn’t seem to hit audiences in the way they thought it would. Fortunately, with Alex Scharfman’s directorial debut with Death of a Unicorn, that issue seems to be solved even if it sometimes feels like it can be hilariously direct.
Death of a Unicorn sees father and daughter duo, Elliot (Paul Rudd) and Ridley (Jenna Ortega), travelling to a crisis management summit, normal and all. However, their trip gets upended after they crash into a unicorn on the road. When their discovery is revealed to the wealthy Leopold family, the Leopolds try what they can to exploit the dead beast. However, when the unicorn’s parents come around and go on a killing spree, it’s everyone for themselves.
Much like A24’s previous horror movie releases, Death of a Unicorn heavily embraces the absurdity of its concept. It’s got the insanity of killer unicorns going at it, which definitely feels like a reminder to that kill in The Cabin in the Woods. However, similarly to Y2K, it also tries to incorporate more serious topics like animal exploitation, big pharma, and distant parenting. As such, it might feel like it’s handling too much in terms of tone, but some of it works thanks to its cast.
Particularly, Jenna Ortega delivers a stellar performance as the grungy Ridley, who feels like a combination of her characters from Wednesday and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. She’s got a rebel emo attitude about her that bounces off Rudd’s always-busy Elliot. Rudd does play up some of that off-beat humor where Elliot doesn’t necessarily get the Leopolds’ humor, but it mostly works. Both Ortega and Rudd do a solid job presenting that dysfunctional family dynamic, which really carries into the final act.
The Leopolds are a quirky bunch, with some standouts. Specifically, Will Poulter is absolutely hilarious as the Leopolds’ son as he constantly tries to flaunt himself as one of those wealthy, well-knowledgeable kids. What he does in the final act might be shocking, but it definitely works due in part to how wild everything is. Meanwhile, Richard E. Grant’s Odell is particularly slimy since he’s the businessman who never looks back. Furthermore, even though Death of a Unicorn is supposed to be a return for Téa Leoni, her character as the Leopold matriarch only really works for supporting comical effect, which isn’t saying a lot.
Furthermore, the Leopolds’ assistants are also pretty funny, with Barry’s Anthony Carrigan shining in the spotlight. His want to not get involved with the Leopolds’ ambitions despite his role as their butler lends the film with some bits of comedy that really work. It’s unfortunate then that, after the second act, Carrigan’s character leaves the film. The rest of the comedy outside of these standout stars could really use some work as some jokes around being rich might not hit as hard as they should.
As for Death of a Unicorn’s overarching narrative, its ideas around capitalistic exploitation of essential industries plays into the familial divide that Ridley and Elliot face. Throughout the film, Scharfman integrates Elliot’s distancing from his daughter with his need for his family’s financial gain, creating a reasonable motivation for him. However, Ridley deeply cares for these creatures, providing that needed emotional tension for narrative depth. You can’t help but recognize both Ridley and Elliot’s perspectives.
Nonetheless, the action and visual tension of Death of a Unicorn really grabs you in the second act. It’s got those suspenseful undertones of Jurassic World and Alien as we’re treated to foggy forest group killing sprees, claustrophobic hallway sequences where there’s running and sneaking, and much more. Larry Fong’s inspired cinematography and Ron Dulin’s editing go hand-in-hand to create some really intense monster moments. Plus, with the unicorns having a bit of practicality and puppetry, it makes Death of a Unicorn a fun monster mash.
Jenna Ortega and Will Poulter heavily carry Death of a Unicorn, which has some strong performances, Amblin-inspired scares, and a heartfelt story. Though some of its brash humor might not stick with some, Death of a Unicorn is still unique enough to make it an enjoyable watch.
Rating: ★★★
Death of a Unicorn releases in U.S. theaters on March 28.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.