Death of a Unicorn

Writer/Director: Alex Scharfman

Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega) are heading to spend a weekend with his ill boss, Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant), and his family (Téa Leoni and Will Poulter), in their impressive home, situated in a nature reserve they sponsor. Their weekend takes a turn when they hit a strange creature on the way to the house. It turns out it’s a Unicorn, a creature as magical as myth and legend suggests. But rather than take care of it, they try to exploit it, which has serious consequences for everyone involved.

This film delivers exactly what you expect from a comedy horror, home invasion,  Unicorns with attitude story. It’s not a film of major surprises, but it does deliver some tension, even if some of the story beats you see coming. Much you’ve seen before, although perhaps with more unicorns. It is silly, splattery fun, through its 107 minutes running time.

In the tradition of comedy horror, the film has a conscience. There are comments on “big pharma”, humanities endless attempts to exploit nature regardless of the consequences, the super wealthy looking after each other, the risks that come with greedy businessmen having influence rather than elected politicians and how people use “family” as a defence for the questionable decisions they make.

There are plenty of enjoyable performances. Ortega and Rudd at its heart, while Richard E. Grant laps up the self-obsessed superrich with delusions of immortality. Will Poulter is the pampered and equally delusional billionaire child. Sunita Mani provides good support as a scientist who soon becomes disillusioned with the rich people’s folly. Anthony Carrigan often steals the show as the put-upon Butler Griff.

Death of a Unicorn is an entertaining, if likely unmemorable, comedy horror. It’s as silly as its premise suggests, with some splattery fun, social commentary, and home invasion tension, all wrapped up with unicorns! While there’s not much original, if you want some dark fun with unicorns, this will suit you nicely!