Just two weeks after Opus, A24 has dropped another “Eat the Rich” horror satire, this time featuring unicorns on a murderous rampage. Yes, you heard that right: unicorns, not as the whimsical, rainbow-farting creatures of children’s stories, but as terrifying, bloodthirsty beasts. Yet, despite this intriguing premise, Alex Scharfman’s Death of a Unicorn left me completely bored, failing to deliver either scares or laughs.
Death of a Unicorn suffers from an identity crisis, unsure whether it wants to be a campy satire or a Jurassic Park-esque horror about billionaires playing God, only to discover that God bites back. Unfortunately, it settles uncomfortably in the middle, resulting in a film that is neither particularly scary nor especially funny. Given its premise, Death of a Unicorn seemed primed for a more overtly satirical approach. After all, when Elliot (Paul Rudd) accidentally hits a unicorn with his car, and his billionaire boss, Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant), attempts to exploit the creature’s magical properties, only for its vengeful parents to strike back, the stage is set for a sharp, eat-the-rich horror comedy. Yet, the film’s lifeless execution brings nothing new to the genre beyond the all-too-familiar refrain of “billionaires bad.” That said, Richard E. Grant and Will Poulter seem to be the only ones who understand the film’s potential, delivering campy, over-the-top performances that inject just enough energy to keep it somewhat entertaining.
When the unicorns aren’t wreaking havoc on the billionaire elite, the film shifts focus to a father-daughter storyline centered on Paul Rudd’s character, a lawyer for the Leopolds, and his angsty teenage daughter, played by Jenna Ortega. Unfortunately, this subplot is painfully bland. The dynamic is meant to explore their strained relationship, Ortega’s character resents her father for working for the Leopolds, while he justifies it as a means of financial security for them both. However, the emotional core never lands, as both Rudd and Ortega seem to be phoning in their performances. Without genuine chemistry or depth, their relationship ultimately falls flat, leaving this aspect of the film as lifeless as the rest.
Overall, Death of a Unicorn doesn’t leave much of an impression. Despite a promising premise, its refusal to fully embrace its own absurdity results in a film that is neither funny nor frightening. Given A24’s track record, I expected more, especially at a time when the studio seems to be in a bit of a slump.
My Rating: C
Leave a Reply