Unicorns DESTROY Everything! Ending Explained!

by

The debut film by Alex Scharfman, titled “Death of a Unicorn“, hit theaters on March 28th, 2025. This action-packed adventure follows a father and daughter who inadvertently find themselves at odds with a clan of unicorns. Among the star-studded cast are Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, Anthony Carrigan, and others.

Beneath its entertaining surface, “Death of a Unicorn” offers a multi-layered critique on society. The enigmatic ending raises questions about its message, and how it connects to the film’s broader themes of wealth and the misuse of nature.

What Happens in ‘Death of a Unicorn’?

On a journey, attorney Elliot Kitner (Rudd) and his college-aged daughter, Ridley (Ortega), travel to the secluded home of their employer, Odell Leopald (Grant), a wealthy magnate. Mr. Leopald is battling terminal cancer, necessitating someone to succeed him in his business. Hoping it might be him, Elliot arranges this weekend meeting. Ridley grumbles about the trip, but Elliot persuades her that their financial security is at stake. Tensions between them run high due to the recent demise of Elliot’s wife and Ridley’s mother. In the car, they argue, but their dispute is halted when Elliot unintentionally strikes an animal – a unicorn in this case.

Initially bewildered and distressed, the Kitners opt to end the creature’s suffering and transport it. However, before this action, Ridley accidentally brushes against the unicorn’s horn. This incident causes her to enter a dreamlike state and forge a spiritual connection with the beast, which they now suspect is no longer alive. The Kitners discreetly bring the unicorn along to the Leopalds’ opulent residence, where they encounter Odell’s son.

Baffled and worried, the Kitners decide to end the creature’s pain by moving it. But before doing so, Ridley accidentally touches its horn. This results in her having a dream-like experience and forming a spiritual link with the animal, which they now believe is dead. The Kitners secretly bring the unicorn with them to the Leopalds’ expensive house, where they meet Odell’s son.

In due course, they find out that the unicorn is surprisingly alive. The Leopald family captures and examines the creature after shooting it, employing scientists to investigate further. It isn’t long before they realize that unicorn horn powder has remarkable healing abilities, even curing cancer. Once Odell recovers, the Leopalds decide to capitalize on this lucrative opportunity by selling the remaining rare unicorn dust to the highest bidders. However, Ridley, having delved deep into tapestries and folklore since her arrival, cautions against interfering with the unicorns and going against nature’s ways, but her warnings fall on deaf ears, even from her own father.

The Prophecy Foretold

In time, it becomes evident that Ridley was absolutely right in his assessment. The Leopald family’s ‘unicorn’ turns out to be a young one, and its parents – larger, gray, and truly terrifying – soon appear at the house seeking revenge. One by one, they kill off each member of the Leopald household and their staff. In a desperate bid, Shepherd reveals, while under the influence of unicorn dust, that unicorns’ sole vulnerability is a “fair maiden.” He proposes sacrificing Ridley, who they still aim to capture for breeding. This act pushes Elliott over the edge. He resigns from his position and flees with the valuable baby unicorn horn, distracting the unicorns long enough for Ridley to make a run for her car. However, she is thwarted before reaching safety by Shepherd, who exploits her to attract the unicorns instead.

In a turn of events, Elliott reappears and impales Shepherd with the enchanted unicorn horn, acting on Ridley’s behalf. However, the tables quickly turn as Shepherd recovers and stabs Elliott in return. Both men succumb to their injuries, lying near death, and Ridley is left mourning her father while trying to recall her vision when she touched the unicorn’s horn earlier.

On numerous occasions, Elliot was prevented from sharing his encounter with the unicorn. However, he grants his daughter one last opportunity to bond with him about this extraordinary event. As Elliot gradually disappeared, Ridley perceived a divine realm.

Subsequently, noticing Ridley’s tears, the unicorns combined their magic and brought Elliot back to life along with the baby unicorn. The unicorns then vanished into the horizon, leaving only footprints in the sunset. With tears streaming down their faces, Elliot and Ridley embrace once more. But just as they were rejoicing, the police arrived on the scene.

How Does ‘Death of a Unicorn End’?

In an unusual predicament, with approximately a dozen deceased individuals nearby and needing to attribute their demise to mythical creatures like unicorns, Elliott and Ridley find themselves in the back of a police cruiser. Strangely enough, they seem more hopeful about life. They exchange smiles, and Elliot signals to Ridley that he too witnessed the event. The officer behind the wheel informs dispatch that they are unlikely to believe the survivors’ tales, but just seconds later, she notices an odd sight outside her window. Three unicorns were galloping alongside the road. These magical creatures approach the car and offer a knowing glance to Ridley and Elliot before they take action. Aware of the impending event, Elliott and Ridley secure their seatbelts and shield their heads. As predicted, the unicorns then forcefully push the car off the road as the scene fades to black.

Ending Explained: Did Riley and Elliot Die?

Based on the situation, it’s apparent that the unicorns were attempting to help Ridley and Elliot, as they felt a deep connection to Ridley, their “Fair Maiden,” as foretold in the prophecy. Director Alex Scharfman has confirmed this aspect, stating, “They are essentially saying, ‘Okay, you’re being held captive; let’s destroy the car and see what happens, but they don’t grasp the social or mechanical consequences.’

In essence, “Death of a Unicorn” explores the theme where nature overpowers human or technological norms. Regardless of how humans attempt to exploit nature for personal gain, be it greed, fame, or scientific research, it remains an unconquerable force that ultimately prevails. Similar to films like “Mickey 17”, “The Menu”, and “Ready or Not”, as well as other wealth-centric horror comedies, this movie uses a symbol (unicorns in this case) to represent scarce valuable resources, showcasing the lengths people will go to acquire them. The Leopald family, driven by their desire to capture unicorns, will risk everything, even if it means putting everyone’s lives at stake. As history unfolds, only the Fair Maiden (and her loved ones) will survive. In the end, we must remember that we cannot defy nature.

In essence, Death of a Unicorn is a narrative that underscores the importance of family bonds over professional pursuits. It emphasizes the power of communication between Ridley and Elliot, demonstrating its rewards. Moreover, the conclusion neatly wraps up the moral of the story by making it clear that there were definite good characters and antagonists, with those who value life above wealth being spared (and shielded from police cars).

In conclusion, it seems Scarfman may have found amusement in the idea of unicorns causing chaos. Although it’s uncertain what will happen to Riley and Elliot as they hurtle down a cliff in a police car, given that unicorns are keeping watch, there’s a chance they might escape unscathed.

Death of a Unicorn is in theaters everywhere now.

Read More

2025-03-29 00:32