Death of a Unicorn is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for strong violent content, gore, language and some drug use.
Death of a Unicorn Review & Ending Explained
Ever wondered what would happen if unicorns were real…and they could cure every disease? Death of a Unicorn, the latest from A24, takes this wild idea and runs with it, mixing laughs, gore, and a dash of social commentary. It’s not the deepest or most original movie out there, but it’s a fun ride—especially if you’re into horror-comedies with a side of chaos.
The movie gets under way with Elliot (Paul Rudd), a harried lawyer and his awkward daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega), en route to a lavish corporate retreat spearheaded by Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant), the head of a huge pharma titan. Elliot is very looking forward to fashioning the final details of a major promotion, and again the trip starts off on the right foot. Ridley is recently bereaved by the loss of her mother and emotionally estranged from her father, who is engrossed in work. One could almost smell the tension between them even when they were supposed to be happy celebrating their anniversary.
The plot thickens when one day, while driving at night, deep in an-road, tree lined area, Elliot runs over something with his SUV. They initially assume the figure of the animal in the distance is that of a deer but are surprised when they find out it is a unicorn – a real one! Even more shocking? There is one notable point: the creature has blood that can heal injuries if poured on the wound. It never gets a chance to process this as it dies, and Elliot and Ridley are left with the next question: what to do with this unicorn and its possible world-shifting power?
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As they reach the Leopold estate they meet a number of other odd yet very wealthy people. We have Odell, a smart and witty but also a rather unscrupulous businessman; Belinda, Odell’s easily influenced wife who hardly has any awareness of the world around her; and Shepard, the naive and thoughtless son of Odell and Belinda and a man who runs an assortment of absurd businesses. Completing the ensemble is Griff, the loyal butler of the Leopolds and a genuinely decent man among all the madness Anthony Carrigan);
Elliot and Ridley attempt to hush up the incident with the unicorn, however the Leopolds do not take long to discover. After this, greed kicks in. While for Odell the unicorn represents an opportunity to achieve eternal life due to the cancer that he has, for Belinda and especially for Shepard it is a straightforward business issue. What proceeds is a seemingly frantic and sometimes comical attempt to get the unicorn’s mystical powers with our two protagonists, Elliot and Ridley, serving as the prey.
This is the point when the Leopolds’ obsession with money turns for the worse. When this unicorn dies, two bigger and more aggressive unicorns appear, which, apparently were mates with the dead one – the foal. Far from the pretty, pastel-hued unicorns you find in fairy tales and children’s books, these creatures are war-like, vindictive and deadly. It appears that the film flips from a satire about money and avarice into a straight-up monster movie, with good old fashioned throat-ripping and excessive mayhem soon.
The use of humor is very interesting and it was quite shocking to see how often it was used throughout the movie. That is especially true for Will Poulter, who had some noted comic relief as the hilariously clumsy Shepard. The cast is very good, highlighted by Carrigan as the unsuspecting heel Griff; however, the writers could’ve used Griff more throughout the season. On the horror side, the unicorns are genuinely terrifying as soon as they are released and the kills are graphic and rewarding. There is certainly a delicious sense of justice in seeing the Leopolds finally receiving their come-uppance and the social justice message is hardly veiled, but there are moments it borders on heavy-handedness.
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However, what can be said is that Death of a Unicorn is not without its problems or issues. There are certain stereotypical jokes and attempts at humor which are silly and the use of computer generated images can be generously described as inconsistent. Despite this, the pacing is a bit off at times with some scenes being slow while others are rushed. If you’re getting here for the joke and the show, then you’ll probably walk away with a smile.
So, who’s this for? I would recommend Death of a Unicorn to anyone into horror-comedies with a hint of satire, or if you just want to see some unicorns murder some greedy billionaires. It’s nothing revolutionary nor complex, but it is an entertaining, slightly chaotic movie that reflects its B-movie premise. I wouldn’t say it has the power to transform your life though.
Rating: 6.5/10 – Despite some laughs, ‘ slasher fans and creature feature buffs will find enough to sink their teeth into here however definitely consider waiting for a streaming night.
Death of a Unicorn 2025 Parents Guide
Violence & Gore: While creepy, the unicorns themselves are depicted as vicious and vindictive. Blood and gore are also present in several scenes where people are impaled by unicorn horns most of which are shown in rather graphic detail.
There are several sequences that are related to the chasing of the unicorn and afterwards to its body, which is exploited for magical powers – this includes bloodlust scenes. Special attention should also be paid to the body horror and Awakening as the characters drink the unicorn’s blood.
Most of the characters meet dreadful fates, and the deaths are as violent as cheesy as in the horror-comedy genre. These scenes are rather vulgar and might be confusing for children and teenagers.
Although most of it is comical, there is a considerable number of violent scenes and gory parts that are portrayed, and therefore caution should be taken.
Language: Obsenities such as f***/s***/a** and other forms of rude and vulgar language.
People for the most part carelessly or deliberately employ rudeness and insults when they speak. I should also mention that there are some explicit jokes that might be considered as appropriate for children.
Sexual Content: Intermittently, there are sexual innuendos, some coming from a rude and privileged character named Shephard portrayed by Will Poulter.
There is some form of romance represented in this case, but there are no scenes that are sexually suggestive or scenes that depict nudity.
Substance Use: Most of the characters in the movie are depicted indulging in alcohol, particularly wine during different occasions at the retreat.
The only hints related to drug use are some mentions of pharmaceutical drugs, which are in line with the movie’s plot that revolves around the theme of a pharmaceutical company.
Director: Alex Scharfman
Writer: Alex Scharfman
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, and David Pasquesi
Release Date: March 28, 2025 (United States)