Death Of A Unicorn Review charges into the absurd with its killer unicorn premise, offering a gleefully chaotic creature feature. Directed by Alex Scharfman in his debut, the film stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter duo facing off against horned horrors. While its thin plot and uneven pacing hold it back. The film’s gleeful carnage and biting humor make it a worthy addition to the late-night movie lineup.
A Bloody Premise with a Sharp Edge
The story kicks off with Elliot (Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Ortega) crashing into a unicorn on the way to a remote gathering hosted by the wealthy Leopold family. Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, and Will Poulter portray the Leopolds as the epitome of corporate greed in a bold and arresting performance. They immediately devise a perverse scheme to use unicorns for medicinal purposes after learning of their legendary qualities.
Performances That Hit and Miss
While Rudd struggles to fully commit to the role of a morally conflicted father, Poulter shines as the arrogant, clueless failure of Shepard Leopold. Ortega is underutilized, often relegated to the voice of reason, but her scenes with Rudd provide the film’s rare moments of emotional sincerity. Supporting actors like Anthony Carrigan add comedic flair, playing a butler exhausted by his employers’ absurdity.
Creature Design and Chaos
The unicorns themselves are a visual treat, with their glowing horns and razor-sharp hooves. While the Zoic Studios visual effects sometimes fall into cartoonish territory, the carnage is gleeful and gruesome. Death Of A Unicorn leans heavily into its creature-feature roots, evoking memories of Jurassic Park with its chaotic mansion rampage.
The final judgment
Even if “Death Of A Unicorn” lacks deeper class critique and falters at poignant scenes, it shines when it embraces its gory humor. Fans of late-night monster movies and campy horror will enjoy this crazy adventure.
Source: AV Club