Death of a Unicorn Review: Dark Unicorn Movie with 'Wednesday' Star Might Be Surprisingly Magical
Copyright © A24, Ley Line Entertainment, Secret Engine, Monoceros Media, Square Peg, The Royal Budapest Film Co
Title: Death of a Unicorn
Director: Alex Scharfman
Release Date: March 28, 2025
A24 is well known for their bittersweet dramas and bloody horrors, but their quirky comedies, like Everything Everywhere All at Once, make for a break. One of their latest releases, Death of a Unicorn, has one of the weirdest concepts yet for their prime. During its opening weekend, the film earned a disappointing $5.7 million against a $15 million budget. Even if audiences were more warm about it, critics praised the film's fun premise and strong acting, but hated the tonal inconsistencies and the potential. Although it may not stand as the year’s best horror film, "Death of a Unicorn" is an entertaining ride filled with unicorn mishaps!
Summary
"A weekend retreat has deadly consequences when a father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to find his billionaire boss, who seeks to exploit the creature's miraculous curative properties." - Google
Reasons
The most magical properties of Death of a Unicorn are its quirky story, straightforward execution, and ridiculously good humor. A horror movie about a unicorn's death is not a bad concept for the Hollywood landscape. There's nothing overly difficult or dirty. Just a tale of a father-daughter duo accidentally crashing into a unicorn. Also, the film just serves as pure entertainment, unlike how other films try to be preachy with a moral lesson. For A24, it's a refreshing break from their roller coaster of dramas and horror. While there are minor themes about nature, the main goal is to make a laugh without diving into deep subplots or the like. The last of this bunch? The humor is well-done! Most of them are delivered either through deaths or dialogue gags. They might be stupid, but they work in the best possible way.
Other standout elements of Death of a Unicorn include strong performances, effective jumpscares and kills, and decent CGI. Casting an overrated star, like Jenna Ortega, doesn't mean the movie is going to be terrible. Everyone delivered their strong performances. However, Will Poulter and Anthony Carrigan stole the show as Elliot and Griff respectively. On the horror front, the jumpscares and kills add genuine tension in a comedy like this. It's just one of those times where unicorns are depicted as dangerous creatures. It has just enough kills to make sure not everyone dies in the whimsical format. Finally, the CGI of the unicorns are good, even though they are not as groundbreaking as Marvel's CGI. The VFX team managed to pay attention to details without overlooking at every single thing. Unlike that Borderlands adaptation from last year, the smooth movements makes the movie look more believable.
Despite being a fun movie, Death of a Unicorn has its flaws. While her performance was effective, Jenna Ortega was a questionable choice. After being cast in this movie, she might continue to play the same character over and over again in the future. Additionally, the pacing could have been tightened. Certain scenes drag on to talk about unicorn lore or make filler. If the movie was shorter, it might fit the typical Hollywood formula, because even a fast pace could have been worth it for this movie.
Conclusion
Death of a Unicorn is a feel-good ride that proves even unicorns can kill for revenge! In my honest opinion, more companies should make films that poke fun at the typical Hollywood formula in the era. After a series of seriousness, A24 should make some more movies that are pure entertainment. While the CGI isn't Marvel-worthy, the story and scares ensure this movie stands out. Just don't let Jenna Ortega be in the movies all the time. If you're a fan of dark comedies, this is worth a watch.
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