Death of a Unicorn Provides Some Bloody Good Fun
Image Courtesy of A24
By Luis Zonenberg
With the month of April commemorating the halfway point to next Halloween, it only seems fair to look at some horrific appetizers for the scary season. This month has a good platter of horror flicks to choose from, whether it be the terrors of The Woman in the Yard or the horrific realms of dating in the upcoming film Drop. Since I was in the mood to watch some killer unicorns, Death of a Unicorn seemed to fit the bill.
The movie focuses on Elliot Kitner (Paul Rudd) traveling with his teenage daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega), to spend the weekend at Odell Leopold’s estate (played by Richard E. Grant), who just happens to be Elliot’s boss. While on their way, the two accidentally run over a unicorn and in doing so, find out that its blood is the cure to cancer and other various diseases. While they study the deceased creature, numerous unicorns soon emerge on the property and run amuck, beginning a murderous rampage!
The overall story is very simple to understand, with the commentary even clearer. This is another film to mock the rich and wealthy, while also warning against tampering with things beyond our comprehension. With that said, the premise serves as a vehicle for some wacky comedic antics and a gore splashfest which was wildly entertaining.
The acting overall was very fun to watch, with the chemistry between Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega anchoring the emotions of the movie. The real highlight though was Will Poulter as Odell’s son, Shepard Leopold. Poulter was delightful to watch, serving spot-on comedic timing and wacky energy that just felt infectious! Anthony Carrigan and Richard E. Grant were also wonderful in their supporting roles as well.
The photography, at times, was simply incredible! The slow panning and even intimate moments helped build suspense and drive the emotion of the story. It was its best when the story went absolutely bonkers, with some shots making it feel downright Lovecraftian! The camerawork made it feel more immersive, making it irresistible to stop watching.
The VFX of the movie looked a little cartoony at times, particularly the unicorns themselves. Their animation was soft and very noticeable, especially in the scenes taking place during the day. At the very least, the design of the unicorns themselves leave a really good impression, with their white fur and sharp teeth allowing for an unforgettable appearance.
The overall story and writing of this movie is hit-or-miss, at times able to get us laughing at the absurdity of its premise. The film does feel held back by its VFX and on the horn commentary, shackling it to current trends of storytelling; however, it still remains loads of fun thanks to its cast and enjoyable kills from the stars themselves. Death of a Unicorn is a fun ride to have at the movies due in part to its devoted cast, even if the not-so-subtle commentary gets in the way sometimes.
Death of a Unicorn is now playing in theaters.
Rating: ★★★ ½ of five
