Death of a Unicorn, A24’s latest genre-blending entry, attempts a valiant fusion of fantasy, dark comedy, and moral satire. It’s a whimsical yet macabre premise – a widowed lawyer and his emotionally distant daughter hit a unicorn with their car, uncovering its magical, life-saving properties – that doesn’t lack originality. Still, while it aims pretty high, it doesn’t always nail the execution.
One of the film’s strengths lies in its performances. Jenna Ortega brings sharp wit and edge to the role of Ridley, a young woman whose quiet vulnerability grounds the film’s stranger moments. As her father, Elliot, Paul Rudd brings his reliable warmth and likability to the role, though his character teeters on being frustratingly obtuse. Most of the humor lies within the wealthy and out-of-touch Leopold family, played by Richard E. Grant, Tea Leoni, and Will Poulter. They’re an insufferable bunch. Their greed and apathy are poorly disguised as philanthropy and altruism, making their fates much more satisfying.
Death of a Unicorn is also visually enchanting. The woodland retreat where much of the story unfolds is beautiful and dreamy but feels uncomfortably confining despite its grand expansiveness. The unicorn designs also add an other-worldly charm to an otherwise dark take on exploitation and the commodification of nature. It’s a timely subject, but it doesn’t feel fully fleshed out.
To me, the film stumbles a bit in its tone and narrative cohesion. It juggles several genres—horror, satire, family drama, eco-fantasy—but doesn’t always succeed in balancing them. Scenes meant to be absurdly humorous undercut emotional moments, while the social commentary often feels muddled by an overly complicated plot.
The pacing also suffers from some inconsistency. After a strong and intriguing opening, the story eventually loses steam, weighed down by too many subplots. While I enjoyed the design of the unicorns, the CGI sometimes distracts from the story itself.
Death of a Unicorn is ambitious and imaginative and probably deserves credit for its willingness to take some risks. The cast seems committed to the absurdity, the themes are compelling and provocative, and there are some gruesome deaths that, believe it or not, you find yourself rooting for.
However, an uneven tone and a cluttered narrative prevent it from reaching its full potential. This movie may resonate more with fans of A24’s signature surrealism, but ultimately, I think Death of a Unicorn is worth a watch, especially for those who appreciate genre experiments but don’t expect a smooth ride.
