Think about for a second that unicorns have been actual, however do not resemble the fanciful fillies illustrated in kids’s books of Lisa Frank faculty provides. As a substitute, they’re feral creatures, with mighty muscular tissues, sharp fangs protruding from a screaming maw, and a horn so girthy and durable it could actually run by a person’s ribcage like a broadsword. These are the beasts that ferociously frolic within the wild A24 comedy Demise of a Unicorn.
The directorial debut of producer Alex Scharfman (Resurrection, Blow the Man Down), Demise of a Unicorn will unfold a story of marvel, greed, and unicorn carnage (unicarnage?) with a humor broad and darkish. A crackling ensemble made up of Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, Will Poulter, Jessica Hynes, and Anthony Carrigan play a solid of eccentric characters, sharply portray a world of sophistication conflicts inside a distant however luxurious property within the Canadian Rockies.
The result’s a film that is hilarious, horrorific, and strikingly honest — albeit uneven.
Demise of a Unicorn lays down a gory and goofy anti-capitalism parable.
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd have a fatetful automobile accident in “Death of a Unicorn.”
Credit score: A24
What would you do in the event you encountered an actual reside (or useless) unicorn? On this unusual circumstance, artwork historical past main Ridley (Ortega) drops to her knees in awe of its glowing gold horn…and oozing purple blood. Her company lawyer father Elliot (Rudd) goes into panic mode, hoping to cowl up the unicorn’s existence to save lots of himself any trouble. However his employers, the rich Leopold household, have a look at the corpse of a mythic beast and see solely greenback indicators — and it is their sprawling property on which the unicorn dies.
Just like the infamous Sacklers on which they’re primarily based, the Leopolds have constructed their monetary empire on prescribed drugs. With their patriarch Odell (Grant) on the verge of loss of life by most cancers, they’ve known as their trusted lawyer Elliot to assist them map out the corporate’s future. However when Ridley and her dad by accident uncover that the unicorn’s blood can treatment their respective zits and allergic reactions, the Leopolds virtually drool on the potentialities.
Swiftly they assemble the rich maniac model of a unicorn chop store, submitting down the horn to see what else this extraordinarily uncommon creature may yield. Take into account it a metaphor for fracking, blithely destroying the pure world to construct wealth for the 1%. However this was no lone unicorn, and when its paranormal dad and mom come searching for their slain foal, all hell — and numerous guts — will break unfastened.
Whereas the Leopolds imagine they’re entitled to something on their land, particularly a unicorn corpse that would treatment most cancers, Ridley argues for the sanctity of the creature, begging them to give up the newborn again to its household. In the meantime, Elliot is torn between his need to make his daughter comfortable and his dedication to appease his obscenely wealthy shoppers. None too subtly, Demise of a Unicorn turns into a battle not solely between man and beast, environmentalism and capitalism, but additionally for Elliot’s soul.
Mashable Prime Tales
Unicorn violence is wickedly enjoyable.
Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd look horrified in “Death of a Unicorn.”
Credit score: A24
Scharfman, who additionally wrote the screenplay, relishes turning the beloved legendary creature right into a creatively rampaging monster. Certain, the primary kill is fairly easy, involving a well-aimed horn proper by a human backbone and out his stomach like an Alien chestburster. However because the night time goes on, these unicorns will crush, snap, gore, chunk, and kick their technique to revenge. Every kill is gushy with blood, providing not solely sick spectacle but additionally some political catharsis. Right here, the Haves get theirs.
Out of its SXSW world premiere, some critics have dinged the movie’s unicorn designs, not for his or her aesthetic, however for the clumsiness of a number of the pc animation. Nonetheless, detailed animatronics are additionally used, making a textured monster who’s wonderful on the massive display screen. Personally, the CGI bits didn’t hassle me. The rougher seams are sometimes hidden in scenes of fog and shadow. Frankly, people who aren’t make the movie really feel scruffy in a manner that fits its midnight film sensibility.
Will Poulter and Richard E. Grant are outrageous standouts in Demise of a Unicorn.
Tea Leoni and Richard E. Grant play posh villains in “Death of a Unicorn.”
Credit score: A24
The solid is stacked with rightly heralded performers. From hitman comedy sequence Barry, Carrigan pops up as a a lot yelled-at butler, who is usually silent but steadily hilarious in his reactions. Because the trophy spouse of the Leopolds, Leoni so revels in taking part in an oblivious, entitled, white girl that she may very properly find yourself on the following season of The White Lotus.
By sharp distinction, Ortega shakes off the stoicism that made her iconic in Wednesday and as an alternative embraces a wide-eyed vulnerability that always leads to transferring tearfulness. For his half, Rudd, who performs a job written for him, appears nearly too daffy dad at instances. It is nearly as if Elliot is in a broader comedy. However this could be design, meant to attract consideration to what a clown Elliot is, always capering to please his rich patrons. Possibly his efficiency is meant to really feel frantically false.
Among the many solid, nevertheless, Grant and Poulter present essentially the most regular hilarity. Grant, an Oscar nominee who’s by no means had a foul efficiency, is deliciously devilish as this profit-seeking patriarch. He is ready to vacillate between frail and philosophical to rejuvenated and wrathful with ease, making his characters grizzly comeuppance all of the extra satisfying. (The viewers at SXSW roared with pleasure for this explicit slaughter.)
As for Poulter, who co-starred in Sackler-inspired TV drama Dopesick, he’s electrifying. Firstly of the movie, his character Shepherd is a cheerfully bro-y and vaguely braindead inheritor, whose greatest concern is whether or not swim shorts are correct apparel to view a useless unicorn in. However as new ranges of greed unlock, this untalented however a lot inspired douchebag grows right into a megalomaniacal villain, as mesmerizing as he’s infuriating. Poulter, like his onscreen father Grant, is extraordinary at balancing malevolent and madcap. Disgrace Scharfman’s balancing of honest and foolish shouldn’t be so eager.
The place Demise of A Unicorn falters is in its exposition. Impressed by The Unicorn Tapestries from the Cloisters, Scharfman creates an amusing and cheeky twist on traditional unicorn lore. Nonetheless, the characters go time and again data that is fairly swiftly defined in its introduction. An analogous redundancy happens within the tragic backstory of why Ridley and Elliot are estranged. Whereas their shared trauma and eventual opening up results in one of many movie’s most touching moments, the trail there is stuffed with loops that trigger the momentum of the unicorn mayhem to pull.
Nonetheless, each Demise of a Unicorn and Mark Anthony Inexperienced’s not too long ago launched Opus are constructive indicators of A24’s cinematic mission. Whereas each are being criticized for being a bit wonky, in addition they supply distinctive and excitingly weird visions, mixing genres fearlessly to inform tales private and political. Whereas not each step is stable, these journeys are nonetheless exhilarating of their originality and bizarre whimsy. Ultimately, Demise of a Unicorn is a monster film that’s riotously humorous, unapologetically darkish, and in the end heartwarming.
Demise of a Unicorn is now taking part in solely in theaters nationwide.
UPDATE: Mar. 28, 2025, 12:20 p.m. Demise of a Unicorn was reviewed out of its premiere on the 2025 SXSW Movie Pageant, on March 10, 2025. The article has been up to date to incorporate the most recent theatrical choices.
