Death of a Unicorn (2025)

Death of a Unicorn (2025): A Fantastical Satirical Horror-Comedy

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Quick Information:

Movie Title: Death of a Unicorn

Director: Alex Scharfman

Genre: Horror-Comedy, Fantasy, Satire

Production Company: A24

Main Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Richard E. Grant, Will Poulter

Budget: Estimated $25 million

Release Date: March 28, 2025 (U.S.)

Premiere: SXSW Festival, March 8, 2025

Runtime: 102 minutes

Languages: English

Introduction :

In a cinematic landscape often populated by reboots and sequels, Death of a Unicorn emerges as a breath of original, bizarre air. Directed by Alex Scharfman in his feature directorial debut, this 2025 A24 production is a horror-comedy hybrid that takes myth and capitalism to strange new heights. The film stars the charismatic Paul Rudd and the ever-versatile Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter duo who accidentally hit a unicorn, setting off a chain reaction of darkly humorous and violent events that satirize corporate greed and human morality.

Plot Summary :

Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd) is a widowed corporate lawyer working for the ultra-wealthy Leopold family, owners of a global pharmaceutical empire. On the way to a weekend retreat hosted by his boss Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant), Elliot and his teenage daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega) accidentally strike and kill a unicorn in the woods.

Instead of reacting with horror or awe, the Leopold family sees the mythical creature as a potential goldmine. They quickly move to extract and analyze its magical properties, believing its body might hold the cure to disease, aging, or even death. The unicorn’s corpse is whisked away to a clandestine lab, and the grotesque process of commodifying a miracle begins.

As scientists dissect the unicorn, mysterious forces begin to stir. The unicorn’s parents — even more powerful and vengeful — come looking for their child. One by one, the Leopolds and their guests are picked off in a series of increasingly brutal and symbolic deaths. Elliot and Ridley, caught in the middle, must decide whether to stand with humanity or the magical forces they've helped wrong.

What starts as a quirky corporate retreat quickly descends into a blood-soaked commentary on the consequences of exploiting the unknown.

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Overview and Themes

Death of a Unicorn blends genres in unexpected ways. It’s part creature feature, part satire, and wholly absurd. With undertones reminiscent of Get Out, Sorry to Bother You, and The Menu, the film uses the fantastical as a mirror to reflect the grotesque side of humanity’s hunger for power, immortality, and profit.

At its core, the film explores how extraordinary things — in this case, a literal unicorn — become corrupted when placed in the hands of people who see value only through the lens of exploitation. It’s a fable for the modern era, laced with humor, horror, and heartbreak.

Cast and Characters

Paul Rudd as Elliot Kintner

Elliot is a morally conflicted corporate lawyer trying to provide for his daughter while suppressing his conscience. Rudd plays him with a mixture of deadpan charm and escalating anxiety as events spiral out of control.

Jenna Ortega as Ridley Kintner

Ortega delivers a powerful performance as Ridley, Elliot’s independent and perceptive teenage daughter. She serves as the film’s moral compass, increasingly disturbed by the unfolding chaos.

Richard E. Grant as Odell Leopold

Grant chews the scenery as the eccentric and opportunistic billionaire determined to monetize the unicorn. His performance adds flamboyant menace to the already outrageous proceedings.

Téa Leoni as Belinda Leopold

Odell’s equally ruthless wife, Belinda, is deeply involved in the business and spiritual side of the unicorn exploitation.

Will Poulter as Shepard Leopold

Their son Shepard is an entitled heir with a surprising arc. Poulter steals several scenes with his dark humor and over-the-top reactions.

Anthony Carrigan, Jessica Hynes, Sunita Mani, and Steve Park

They round out the supporting cast, playing scientists, assistants, and corporate lackeys, each contributing their own flavor to the satirical chaos.

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Production

Development

Death of a Unicorn was written and directed by Alex Scharfman, who made the leap from producer to director. Known for indie gems like Resurrection and Blow the Man Down, Scharfman wrote the screenplay to combine his love of fantasy and social satire.

The film was greenlit by A24, the studio behind innovative films like Hereditary, The Lighthouse, and Everything Everywhere All At Once. With backing from such a risk-friendly distributor, Scharfman had the creative freedom to go all-in on the bizarre and bold.

Filming

Principal photography began in July 2023 in Hungary. Despite the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike that year, Death of a Unicorn received a special waiver allowing filming to continue. The Hungarian landscape was used to create a forested dreamscape where myth and reality collide.

Music and Score

Originally, the score was to be created by horror legend John Carpenter and his team. However, in 2025, Dan Romer and Giosuè Greco took over composing duties. The trailer famously uses The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations," adding a jarring sense of nostalgia to the surreal events onscreen.

St. Vincent also contributed an original track titled "DOA," capturing the movie’s whimsical yet disturbing tone.

Release

Death of a Unicorn premiered at South by Southwest (SXSW) on March 8, 2025. It was released theatrically on March 28, 2025. The film opened in over 1,200 theaters across the U.S., with A24 focusing on a mix of arthouse and mainstream venues.

Box Office and Reception

Box Office

The film opened to a modest $9 million in its first weekend, buoyed by the star power of Rudd and Ortega and strong curiosity generated by its trailer. As of April 2025, it has grossed $36 million worldwide, making it a commercial success relative to its budget.

Critical Response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Death of a Unicorn holds a 54% rating based on 169 reviews, with the consensus calling it “boldly bizarre, occasionally brilliant, but uneven in execution.” Metacritic scores it at 51/100.

While some critics praised its originality and biting satire, others found its tone inconsistent and its ending too chaotic. Audiences, however, have responded positively, especially fans of offbeat horror and satirical genre films.

Audience Reaction

The film has gained a cult following on social media, where fans share unicorn fan theories, dissect the symbolism, and create fan art. Ridley’s character in particular has struck a chord with Gen Z viewers.

Themes and Symbolism

Capitalism and Commodification

The central theme of the film is how capitalism corrupts wonder. The unicorn, once a symbol of purity and magic, is reduced to tissue samples and profit margins.

Family and Grief

Elliot’s journey is not just about survival, but about reconciling with grief over his wife’s death and connecting with his daughter.

Nature’s Revenge

The unicorn parents’ retribution acts as a metaphor for nature striking back when disrespected. Their supernatural powers are less fantasy and more warning.

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Behind the Scenes and Fun Facts

The unicorn effects were achieved with a mix of animatronics and CGI, overseen by the team behind The Witch and The Green Knight.

Paul Rudd reportedly improvised several of his lines.

Jenna Ortega trained with a dialect coach to give Ridley a more grounded and authentic voice.

Several deleted scenes hint at a broader unicorn mythology.

The director stated that the unicorn was inspired by a dream he had during a fever.

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Notes and Trivia

The original working title was Mythical Error.

Alex Scharfman originally wrote the script as a short film.

A tie-in graphic novel, The Unicorn Files, is in development.

Fans speculate the unicorn parents represent different mythological creatures depending on culture.

References

Wikipedia - Death of a Unicorn (Film)

IMDb - Death of a Unicorn (2025)

Rotten Tomatoes - Death of a Unicorn Reviews

Time Magazine - Review: Death of a Unicorn

A24 Films - Official Film Page

WhatToWatch.com - Everything We Know About Death of a Unicorn

Final Verdict

Death of a Unicorn isn’t just a movie — it’s an experience. It dares to blend absurdity with gravity, magic with corporate satire. While it may not hit the mark for everyone, it’s a unique entry in 2025’s cinematic offerings. Alex Scharfman shows great promise as a filmmaker unafraid to be weird, wild, and wildly original.

For fans of horror-comedies, surreal fables, or films that leave you thinking, Death of a Unicorn is a must-watch.

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