Death of a Unicorn: Mark Kermode’s fantasy movie review (video).
Mark Kermode goes for a gallop with a unicorn in the odd new fantasy film, Death of a Unicorn. Watch his review, above.
Meanwhile, here at SFcrowsnest, we pride ourselves on our ability to sift through the bonkers and bizarre offerings of the genre cinema world and deliver you the latest absurdities with the sharp edge of British wit. So, when a film comes along featuring unicorns, a tiresome ‘father-daughter bonding’ subplot, and Paul Rudd wielding a tire iron to bludgeon a mystical creature, you can bet we’re going to take a long, hard look at it. This, dear reader, is Death of a Unicorn, a comedy horror directed by Alex Scharfman and featuring an ensemble cast that might make you question whether the unicorns themselves are the least strange thing about the film.
The plot is about as wild as a drunken centaur at a high-society garden party. Paul Rudd (that lovable man-child) plays Elliot Kintner, who, in a moment of vehicular recklessness, accidentally runs over a unicorn foal. Cue the cosmic visions, inexplicable healing powers, and enough magical shenanigans to make you wonder if the script was written by a particularly odd fever dream. His daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega), ends up getting more than she bargained for when the unicorn’s blood clears up her acne and magically sorts out her father’s allergies. It’s like an Instagram influencer’s dream come true—except for the part where they then decide to experiment on the poor creature, causing everything to go spectacularly pear-shaped.
Now, if you’re thinking “Hey, what could possibly go wrong with messing around with magical horn shavings?”, then you clearly haven’t seen Death of a Unicorn. When the family of Elliot’s boss, Odell Leopold (played with a rather deadpan charm by Richard E. Grant), gets involved, they do the most logical thing possible: they start experimenting on the unicorn, as you do when you’re rich, bored, and probably looking for a new hobby. After the creature is killed, resurrected, and then violently hunted by its irate parents (because, let’s face it, if someone tried to turn your child into an anti-aging serum, you’d probably get a little upset too), things devolve into a battle royale that includes several people being disemboweled by horned, magical beings.
The film plays out like American Horror Story meets The Office, with moments of physical comedy juxtaposed against gore-soaked action. There’s an odd sense of humour here that doesn’t always land, but Death of a Unicorn earns points for not taking itself seriously, delivering laughs where you least expect them (including a particularly amusing moment involving a tire iron and the most unceremonious unicorn murder in cinematic history). Will Poulter, as the arrogant heir apparent, Shepard Leopold, and Téa Leoni, as the bewildered Belinda Leopold, provide solid support, though you may find yourself more interested in the fate of the unicorns than the bizarre subplot involving family dysfunction.
If there’s one thing the film manages to capture, it’s that feeling of utter absurdity that genre fans live for. It has its share of over-the-top gore, but it also has moments that feel strangely wholesome—at least until someone is gored by a rampaging unicorn. Death of a Unicorn tries to be a satirical commentary on the absurdity of wealth and science run amok, but its attempts to skew class-consciousness mostly fall flat, leaving us instead with a film that’s as odd as it is amusing.
The performances, especially from Rudd and Ortega, do elevate the material—Rudd’s effortlessly goofy dad-energy provides a solid anchor, while Ortega’s Ridley offers just enough grounded emotion to make you care about what happens next, even if it’s just more people being slaughtered by large mythical creatures. The cinematography and effects are hit or miss—some of the digital unicorn mayhem is more The Asylum than Jurassic Park, but you’ve got to admire the sheer chaos of it all. Oh, and the score—despite the whole John Carpenter fiasco—manages to capture the right level of tension and oddity, so credit where credit’s due.
Ultimately, Death of a Unicorn won’t be for everyone. Some may find the absurdity too much to bear, while others will revel in the blend of ridiculous comedy and grotesque horror. But one thing’s for certain: this film is a mood—the kind of offbeat, satirical fun that’s perfect for those who want to spend 90 minutes watching a unicorn eat its way through an insufferably wealthy family.
So, buckle up for a truly magical ride—just be prepared for a lot of blood, a lot of carnage, and a few deadpan looks from Paul Rudd. This is one ride you won’t soon forget, even if the film’s conclusion leaves you wondering if you just accidentally wandered into a fevered dream—or maybe you just consumed too much unicorn horn.
