Why ‘Death of a Unicorn’ Fails to Live Up to Its Magical Premise

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The Demise of the Magical Creature – Unicorn, the recent production from esteemed distributor A24, presents a straightforward concept: what if unicorns truly existed? What if their physiology harbored cures for all human afflictions? This premise serves as the foundation for comedic humor and excessive gory scenes. In the realm of horror-comedies with sociopolitical undertones, it may not reach the heights of masterpieces like Get Out, or plummet to the lows of films such as Don’t Look Up. Directed by Alex Scharfman in his feature debut, it offers a satisfying 1 hour and 44-minute viewing experience; however, some viewers might prefer a slightly abridged runtime for an even more enjoyable watch.

In the movie titled “Death of a Unicorn“, Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega lead an exceptional cast, playing characters named Elliot and Ridley. Elliot is a lawyer, while Ridley is his teenage daughter, who together journey to the remote getaway of a wealthy pharmaceutical CEO for Elliot’s promotion. The two have grown emotionally distant due to the passing of Ridley’s mother, which has driven Elliot to focus excessively on his career. During their trip, an unusual incident occurs involving Elliot’s SUV and some mysterious roadkill. As they arrive at the countryside estate, they uncover a startling truth: not only do unicorns exist, but they are powerful cosmic beings, and the key to curing various diseases like acne and cancer lies within their biology.

How Can a Film About Something So Rare Be So Predictable?

As Elliot and Ridley arrive at the estate, they encounter the real villains from “Death of a Unicorn”: the extravagantly wealthy pharmaceutical magnate Odell Leopold (played by Richard E. Grant), his wife Belinda (Téa Leoni), and the unintelligent business heir Shepard (Will Poulter). Trying but failing to hide their hit-and-run, Elliot and Ridley’s secret is exposed, prompting the Leopold family, driven by greed, to exploit the unicorn for infinite riches and authority. They proceed to plunder the corpse in search of their dreamed-of wealth and power.

If it seems like I’m summarizing the movie trailer, you’re not off base. The film “Death of a Unicorn” doesn’t offer many unexpected scenes, but it does deliver a few enjoyable kill sequences. Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega give solid performances as characters they’ve portrayed numerous times earlier. Rudd plays a caring, yet blundering father figure who stumbles through trying to be part of the elite – he’s basically in his “Ghostbusters” mode. Similarly, Ortega’s character, Ridley, echoes her roles from “Stuck in the Middle” and even mirrors Astrid from “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”, particularly in how she grapples with estrangement from one parent while dealing with the sorrow of another’s demise.

A Throwback to Much Better Movies

In “Death of a Unicorn,” the humor doesn’t fully blossom until they arrive at the Leopolds’ hideaway, where Grant and Leoni portray over-the-top representations of affluent capitalists. Initially, Odell appears harmless due to his cancer, but this changes when he inexplicably recovers after the unicorn’s blood miraculously heals him – reminiscent of Gene Wilder’s famous cane scene in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” albeit not as engaging.

In the movie by Scharfman, you can see traces of several other works, with Jurassic Park being one of the most evident. The film makes references to this classic multiple times, such as when larger, more menacing unicorns appear to claim the body of what proves to be their offspring. However, imitating a masterpiece often leads to disappointment, and that’s exactly what happens with Death of a Unicorn. Similar to the recent Jurassic World sequels, this film overuses computer-generated imagery (CGI), but unfortunately, most of it falls short in quality.

Will Poulter & Anthony Carrigan Are Acting Unicorns

In this movie, Will Poulter and Anthony Carrigan truly shine among the cast. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t fully leverage Carrigan’s talents, as he demonstrated a wide range of humor and emotion on HBO’s “Barry.” This leaves room for Poulter to dominate every scene, portraying Shepard (or “Sheppy,” as Belinda amusingly nicknames him). Shepard is a spoiled rich kid with various business ventures, who overcompensates for his supposedly “wormy” brain by always aligning with the wisest voice in any given situation. If you’re not familiar with Poulter’s comedic skills, they might seem fresh and surprising; however, you could be forgiven for overlooking them in the largely forgotten comedy “We’re the Millers,” another film where Poulter outshone his co-stars.

In essence, the story of Death of a Unicorn isn’t complex beneath its presentation. The characters portrayed are unscrupulous billionaires who would hoard a cancer cure to increase their wealth and longevity. Elliot, a character symbolizing working-class dilemmas, spends too much time wrestling with his moral compass, making Ridley a clear stand-in for him. As for the dynamic between father and daughter, it’s not particularly insightful, a trait that can be applied to many aspects of this film, which seems to cater to a sympathetic audience. For example, when Ridley mentions, “Philanthropy is just a way for the wealthy elite to clean their reputation,” well, we get it.

If “Death of a Unicorn” offers anything beyond Poulter and Carrigan, it lies in its gruesome deaths. It’s satisfying to see arrogant individuals receive their due punishment, but even so, after witnessing the second unicorn horn attack, you understand the point. Scharfman effectively concludes the movie, reminding viewers that unicorns are surprisingly tough and cool, a fact often overlooked after years of gloomy Lisa Frank stickers. In essence, “Death of a Unicorn” delivers on its promise, although the premise, much like the satire, is rather shallow to begin with. The social commentary seems to be missing its bite, or in this case, its horns.

The film titled “The Demise of the Unicorn” made its debut at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival. For further details, check it out here.

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2025-03-10 01:07