Death of a Unicorn
March 26th, 2025
MOVIE: DEATH OF A UNICORN
STARRING: PAUL RUDD, JENNA ORTEGA, WILL POULTER, RICHARD E. GRANT, TÉA LEONI
DIRECTED BY: ALEX SCHARFMAN
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 3 STARS (Out of 4)
RATED: R
RUN TIME: 107 MINUTES
A24 films may not always be perfect, but I can’t help but admire the reputation the studio has built over the years. What they’ve yet to do, however, is produce a massive blockbuster on the scale of Transformers or Jurassic Park… until now. Or at least, this is the closest they might ever get. The most surprising part of Alex Scharfman’s Death of a Unicorn is that it’s the best Jurassic Park movie since the original. It’s also a hilarious dark comedy, packed with a powerful message about wealth inequality and unexpectedly gory moments. Death of a Unicorn is, in short, a surprisingly poignant and magical ride.
The star-studded cast plays a significant role in bringing this intriguing plot to life. Ridley (Jenna Ortega) heads to the Rockies for a company retreat with her father, Elliot (Paul Rudd), the legal counsel to ailing billionaire Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant). Odell resides with his self-righteous wife, Belinda (Téa Leoni), and their tech-bro, nepotism-fueled son, Shepard (Will Poulter). The group gathers at their luxurious estate, where Elliot hopes to position himself as a future part-owner of Odell’s empire once the old man passes. However, the fun takes an unexpected turn when Elliot hits a strange animal on the road—not a deer or coyote, but a majestic midnight-blue unicorn. When Ridley touches the dying creature, something strange happens to her. Instead of trying to save it, Elliot decides to put it out of its misery, stashing the carcass in the rental car’s trunk to deal with it later. But, as you might imagine, it’s hard to ignore a mythical dead animal bleeding in your car for long.
The screenplay, also penned by Scharfman, plays out like a mini-Jurassic Park. The rich, self-entitled guests discover the unicorn and its magical properties, and their greed drives them to attempt to extract its blood and harvest its horn, all under the guise of science. As expected, things go wrong, especially when it’s revealed that the unicorn is just a baby, and its parents have arrived to wreak havoc on anyone who has harmed their child. The action quickly escalates with bloody horn-through-chest moments, hooves stomping on heads, and plenty of dark humor, thanks to Poulter and Leoni, who steal every scene they’re in.
Some viewers might dismiss a story like this as an exercise in futility, but there’s undeniable power in a film that critiques the elite, and Death of a Unicorn nails its commentary on privilege. Rudd’s character is the perfect embodiment of the confused everyman: he doesn’t want to rock the boat, hopes to stay in his lane, and just wants to reap the rewards. But when you hit a unicorn on your way to a corporate retreat, that’s usually a sign of things going wrong.
What truly makes Death of a Unicorn work is its impeccable timing and the stellar character work from everyone involved. Poulter brings a Kim Kardashian-level obliviousness to his role, and even as the jokes begin to repeat, Scharfman never lets the film fall into one-note territory. At its core, Death of a Unicorn is a heartfelt exploration of family, the workaholic lifestyle, and a harsh condemnation of the lengths to which greed can drive a person. For all the hardworking families out there, sometimes the magic of a unicorn can put things into perspective. Death of a Unicorn delivers a robust blend of humor, making us laugh through the painful reality, and enjoy seeing some unicorns get their kicks.
3 STARS
Written by: Leo Brady
