Death of a Unicorn (2025)

Death of the Unicorn is one of films that I have been intrigued by purely because of the title. With it being an A24 film it was clear that the film was going to have more than a hint of strangeness. The plot of the film sees Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega play father and daughter who are on their way to weekend retreat when they hit what turns out to be a baby Unicorn and the magic properties that it has are utilised by the pharmaceutical family lead by Richard E. Grant but the problem is the parents of the unicorn want their baby back and they are not very happy. 

I really liked this film and the many reasons why. Firstly with a plot centred around Unicorns, the film should not work and yet it does. A key reason is the setting. I am a big sucker for isolated settings because it keeps the story contained and they can only work if the story is structured to cope with the restricted setting and it stretches the term isolated a bit because there are some scenes in the woods but it's still relatively close to the house. The film also benefits from the restricted cast and that may have been a budgetary decision but it helps because it means that the characters we see get enough screen time.

The film boasts an impressive cast list with Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Richard E. Grant & Téa Leoni. Jenna Ortega is very good as Ridley. She takes what was probably on paper a very whiny role and manages to make it a likeable one. Paul Rudd is likeable as Elliot who is just trying to do the best for his daughter after his wife passed away. Rudd is always likeable but he does fall into a supporting role for most of the film. To be fair they do have a good dynamic together and in the final act they feel like a father and daughter team. 

Will Poulter steals the show as Shepard, as a rich trust fund kid who has a new idea every five minutes. He is constantly being the funny part of the film and proves the humour when the more serious scenes happen. Richard E Grant is very good as the dad. Saying that Richard E. Grant is very good is a bit like saying there are seven days in the week. I think this performance is as good as the one in Saltburn. He starts the film at death's door to begin with but in safari gear and hunting unicorns by the end. That visual alone is worth the ticket price.

Téa Leoni is the weak link of the central cast. It’s not that she is bad but it does feel like the plot wouldn't miss anything if Belinda wasn't there. Belinda is a sort of cliched rich businesswoman who is just following the almighty dollar. 

Another reason why the film works when it shouldn't is the way the plot is structured. The family is not very nice and perhaps a bit cliched but I liked them enough to enjoy the film although happy when they got killed off. All their deaths were gruesome and perhaps what they deserved. The gore is another big thing I like because the deaths seem slightly over the top but the blood didn't seem computer generated or if it were then it was very well done. I would say that Belinda’s death was perhaps the most gruesome although Shepard’s was simple but still seemed tough

The film ends with what could be seen as a sequel bait ending with the trio of unicorns attacking the police car with Ridley and Elliot with the implication that they are there to rescue the father and daughter. I think that unless this leads to a sequel then the ending was a bit of a disappointment as it would have just been better for the film to end when the unicorns run off into the woods. Time will tell I suppose.

I really enjoyed this film as the film defies the odds and makes a film with unicorns at its heart a lovely and quite horrific film. A24 has a great track record and films like this show why. The cast worked really well together and the tone was pitched just perfectly. It just goes to show that you can make a successful movie about just about anything.