Death of a Unicorn 4K 2025

Death of a Unicorn received an interesting reception. The film had everything it needed to be a success: the trendy A24 studio, an enticing concept and title, rising star Jenna Ortega in the lead role, and a supporting cast of experienced and recognizable faces for audiences older than Ortega's fans. But none of the above, nor the extensive advertising campaign (in the US, at least), saved Death of a Unicorn from audience ratings of 6 out of 10 at the start and a complete box office flop. But did the film deserve it?

The plot tells the story of a workaholic father and his student daughter, who are traveling to meet important wealthy bosses to sign a lucrative contract. But the father, rushing to his appointment, hits a unicorn and then kills it with a tire iron to be sure. However, even this mythical creature does not die, so the wealthy family discovers an unusual find that promises big money, because unicorn blood not only removes acne and improves vision, but also cures cancer.

Actually, the story in Death of a Unicorn turned out to be entertaining. The authors maintain a comedic tone throughout, from the absurd “importance” of the rich man's son, played by Will Poulter, to the speeches of his parents, who, behind their lofty words, are only spouting nonsense aimed at fooling the poor (compared to the rich, of course) main characters.

The only thing I didn't like about the whole structure was the last 15 minutes of the film. The characters start to act stupidly and do spontaneous things, and I still couldn't understand the final act of the unicorns. Besides, there won't be a sequel, which is already obvious from the audience's reception of Death... Unicorn, so I can't approve of such an ellipsis.

On the other hand, the actors in this film did a great job. Everyone is in their place and plays their roles quite diligently. I was also pleased with the rare guest in cinemas after 2022 in the form of high-quality dubbing. All the voices are well chosen and performed well. As for the actors themselves, Jenna Ortega, as always, plays a sweetheart who wishes everyone well and screams at the sight of murders. The more experienced actors in the background are also fine, but I especially liked the insidious rich people played by Tea Leoni and Richard E. Grant.

I would also like to note that Death of a Unicorn cannot be called a horror film. I would classify this film as a fantasy thriller with a fair amount of black comedy. The authors, in general, do not stand on ceremony with sensitive viewers, so unicorns pierce heads, dismember, and otherwise torment the bodies of greedy rich people and their henchmen.

As a result, Death of a Unicorn is a fairly lively monster movie set in a single location with a fair amount of comedy. The ending is a bit muddled, but the acting, good humor, and unexpected cruelty keep you glued to the screen and prevent you from getting bored. A24 lacks such audience-friendly films, and, significantly, it is precisely these kinds of works that are underrated by fans of the studio. For less pretentious viewers, I recommend watching Death of a Unicorn.