Film Review: Death of a Unicorn

Death of a Unicorn
Director: Alex Scharfman
Secret Engine, Key Lime Entertainment
in Theaters: 03.28.25

The bond between a parent and their child can take many different forms and can sometimes become quite strained. Nevertheless, it’s one of the most powerful ties that exists in this world. Death of a Unicorn is a unique and entertaining story about what happens when you try to mess with that bond. 

As Death of a Unicorn begins, career-driven attorney and widower Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd, Ant-Man) and his teenage daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega, Wednesday, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), are driven to an weekend retreat with Elliot’s boss, when something appears in the road. Unable to swerve in time, they hit the creature, only to discover that it appears to be a unicorn. They arrived at the house with the dead unicorn in the back of the car, and Ridley meets Elliot’s boss, Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant, Gosford Park, Can You Ever Forgive Me?), an ailing millionaire who is working on getting all of his affairs in order, along with his wife Belinda (Téa Leoni, Bad Boys, Jurassic Park III), and his adult son, Shepard (Will Poulter, Detroit, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3). The existence of the unicorn is soon discovered by the family, as is its magical healing properties. Being the good American capitalists that they are, the Leopolds decide to strip the unicorn for parts and bring in scientists to look at how to maximize the potential for profits — until the unicorn’s vengeful parents show up, reading to unleash hell on on those who killed and exploited their child.

Death of a Unicorn is a swiftly paced mix of fairy tale, subversive class satire, horror and not for all tastes. The tone is bit of Tim Burton, a bit of Knives Out and a lot of Jurassic Park, and it’s a darky entertaining diversion. The effects and production design are visually arresting, and there’s a surprisingly stark kinship between unicorns and velociraptors in this film, almost as if the same CGI models were recycled, though it’s more likely just a deliberate homage. Writer-director Alex Scharfman makes his feature debut, proving himself a deft hand at staging and an enthusiastic storyteller with a knack for witty dialogue. The cynically dark comedy mixes with scares, bloody violence and, in the final third, a lot of heartfelt emotion which makes for a highly satisfying experience.

Ortega can be good in anything regardless of quality (demonstrated by X and the reboot of Scream), and she’s a key component of making the movie shine so brightly. She brings a sarcastic, biting edge to the role, mixed with pain, vulnerability and inmate human kindness. Leoni and Poulter get some big laughs, though the lion’s share go to Anthony Carrigan (Barry,  Bill & Ted Face the Music) as the Leoplold’s Igor like butler. The least memorable performance comes from Rudd, who isn’t bad by any means, but who has become increasingly overexposed in recent years and is able to find little new in the character. Still, he has some strong interplay with both Ortega and the deliciously Mr. Burns-eque Grant. 

Death of a Unicorn is a fast-paced and fun horror comedy that has all the makings of a cult classic, and if you, like me, prefer your jumpscares and macabre stories with a dose of laughs and social commentary, this one is a magical treat.  —Patrick Gibbs 

Read more SLUG film reviews here:
Film Review: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Film Review: Snow White