A24 has officially released Death of a Unicorn for home viewing, giving audiences a chance to witness one of the studio’s strangest and most genre-defying films to date. Blending horror, satire, and surreal fantasy, the movie teams up Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as a father-daughter duo caught in a bizarre ethical and mythical crisis.
After premiering at the 2025 South by Southwest Festival and hitting theaters on March 28, 2025, Death of a Unicorn is now available on demand via Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home.
Death of a Unicorn: A Twisted Tale of Myth, Greed, and Gore
A Surreal Premise with a Dark Comic Twist
Directed by Alex Scharfman in his feature debut, Death of a Unicorn begins innocently enough: Elliot (Rudd) and Ridley (Ortega) are en route to a corporate retreat when they accidentally strike and kill a unicorn. That bizarre event sparks a spiraling conflict once Elliot’s billionaire boss, Odell Leopold (played by Richard E. Grant), discovers the unicorn’s mystical healing powers and sees dollar signs instead of morality.
What unfolds is a satirical descent into corporate greed and ecological horror. The unicorn becomes a literal commodity, triggering a bloody retaliation from nature itself. Scharfman’s storytelling leans into the absurd—unicorn vengeance, capitalist exploitation, and familial tension all play out against a lush wilderness backdrop.
The film also features supporting performances from Will Poulter and Téa Leoni, rounding out a cast that balances dry humor with genuine pathos. Ortega, in particular, stands out with a performance that swings between sardonic wit and grounded emotional depth.
Reception: A Divisive Ride for Critics
Death of a Unicorn has sparked sharply mixed reactions among critics and fans alike. It currently holds a 55% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on nearly 200 reviews. While some praised its originality and the bold genre mash-up, others found the execution uneven.
What critics are saying:
- The Washington Post critiqued the film for “squandering its premise” and relying too heavily on “unconvincing digital effects.”
- The Guardian praised the film’s creativity and gore but noted it lacked the satirical sharpness that could’ve elevated its message. Jenna Ortega’s performance, however, was widely highlighted as a redeeming asset.
- Fans of A24’s previous offbeat hits may find Death of a Unicorn worth the ride for its sheer weirdness and risk-taking, even if it doesn’t hit every mark cleanly.
Streaming and Home Release Info
As of April 29, 2025, Death of a Unicorn is available to rent or buy digitally:
- Rental: $19.99
- Purchase: $24.99
- Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV+, Fandango at Home
A Blu-ray release is also scheduled for July 2025, which may include behind-the-scenes content and director commentary for fans wanting a deeper dive into its production and practical effects.
If you’re in the mood for something that’s part Jurassic Park, part BoJack Horseman, and part corporate horror fantasy, Death of a Unicorn is now just a click away.
Key Takeaways
- “Death of a Unicorn” combines comedy and horror through the story of a father-daughter duo who accidentally kill a mythical creature.
- Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star in this 2025 A24 film directed by Alex Scharfman.
- The movie uses dark humor and mythological elements to create satire about wealth and corporate pharmaceuticals.
The Making of ‘Death of a Unicorn’
Behind the horror-comedy film lies a fascinating production journey that blends unique creative vision with stellar casting choices that brought this unusual monster movie to life.
Production Background
“Death of a Unicorn” represents A24’s continuing commitment to distinctive genre-blending films. The production began in late 2023, with filming taking place primarily in remote woodland locations to capture the eerie atmosphere needed for the story of a father-daughter hunting trip gone terribly wrong.
The film’s production team faced unique challenges in creating the unicorn monster, ultimately deciding on a hybrid approach of practical effects and CGI. This combination allowed for more authentic actor reactions during filming while maintaining the creature’s otherworldly quality.
Budget constraints actually worked in the film’s favor, forcing creative solutions that emphasized psychological horror alongside comedic elements. The production design team crafted the isolated hunting lodge setting to enhance both claustrophobia and the strained family dynamics at the heart of the story.
Director Alex Scharfman’s Vision
Alex Scharfman, making his feature directorial debut, brought a distinctive perspective to “Death of a Unicorn.” His background in short horror films provided the foundation for the tense atmosphere, while his comedy writing experience helped balance the film’s tonal shifts.
Scharfman has described the project as “a monster movie about family dynamics” rather than simply a creature feature. His vision centered on using the unicorn as a metaphor for the barriers between father and daughter.
“I wanted to create something that felt both familiar and completely new,” Scharfman explained in production notes. The director worked closely with cinematographer Elliot Kintner to develop a visual language that shifts between warm family moments and cold horror sequences.
The film’s distinctive look emerged from Scharfman’s dedication to shooting on location rather than soundstages, believing the natural environment would enhance the story’s authenticity.
Casting Insights
The father-daughter relationship forms the emotional core of “Death of a Unicorn,” making casting these roles crucial. Paul Rudd was an early choice for the father role, bringing his trademark comedic timing while showcasing dramatic depth.
Jenna Ortega joined the project after reading the script and connecting with the daughter character’s complex emotions. In interviews, Ortega has mentioned the difficulty of maintaining serious performances opposite Rudd’s improvisational comedy style.
“There were moments I couldn’t stop laughing between takes,” Ortega revealed. “Paul would add these little quirks that weren’t in the script.”
The supporting cast includes Will Poulter and Téa Leoni, who round out the ensemble with performances that balance the film’s horror and comedy elements. The chemistry between cast members developed during an intensive two-week rehearsal period where they worked through the script’s most challenging emotional scenes.
Synopsis and Thematic Elements
“Death of a Unicorn” blends horror and comedy in an offbeat tale about accidental mythical creature slaughter. The film uses this bizarre premise to explore family dynamics while delivering sharp social commentary through its fantastical elements.
Plot Overview
The story centers on a father and daughter, played by Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, who accidentally hit and kill a unicorn with their car. This shocking incident kicks off a nightmarish adventure as they discover they’re now being hunted by the unicorn’s vengeful parents.
The pair find themselves caught in an increasingly dangerous situation during what was supposed to be a simple weekend retreat. Their attempt to cover up the accident leads to escalating chaos and absurdity.
The film poses a deceptively simple question: What would you do if you accidentally ran over a unicorn? This premise creates the foundation for both comedic moments and genuine horror as the mythical creatures seek retribution.
Analyzing the Satirical Tone
“Death of a Unicorn” functions as both horror film and social satire. The movie uses its fantastical premise to comment on modern anxieties and millennial-specific concerns.
The unicorn – typically a symbol of purity and wonder – becomes a vehicle for exploring themes of accountability and consequences. When something magical is destroyed, the film suggests, there’s a price to pay.
The satirical elements target privilege, environmental impact, and generational divides. The father-daughter relationship serves as a microcosm for broader social tensions, with their differing reactions to the unicorn’s death highlighting contrasting worldviews.
A24’s signature approach to genre-blending allows the film to deliver social commentary without sacrificing entertainment value or becoming heavy-handed.
Horror and Comedy Interplay
The film expertly balances horror and comedy elements, creating a tone that feels uniquely unsettling yet darkly funny. The absurdity of being hunted by unicorns provides natural comedic moments.
Will Poulter, according to reviews, delivers a standout performance that helps maintain this delicate tonal balance. His character likely serves as a counterpoint or catalyst to the main duo’s predicament.
The horror aspects come from the vengeful unicorn parents, who transform from magical creatures into terrifying hunters. This subversion of unicorn mythology creates an unexpected source of fear.
The visual contrast between beautiful mythical creatures and gruesome violence contributes to the film’s distinctive atmosphere. A24’s track record with horror-comedy hybrids like “Midsommar” and “Hereditary” suggests this blend will be handled with creative flair.
Cultural and Mythological References
“Death of a Unicorn” draws heavily from ancient unicorn mythology while subverting traditional representations of these creatures in popular culture. The film reimagines unicorns as terrifying beings rather than gentle fantasy creatures.
Unicorn Lore in the Film
Director Alex Scharfman deliberately returns to ancient depictions of unicorns as fearsome creatures rather than the gentle, rainbow-associated beings of modern fantasy. As Scharfman noted, “Unicorns in antiquity used to be terrifying,” and this historical perspective drives the film’s approach to these mythical creatures.
The unicorns in the movie possess both beauty and danger, reflecting medieval beliefs that unicorns were wild, untamable creatures that could only be captured by a pure maiden. This duality creates tension throughout the narrative as characters discover these magical beings aren’t the friendly creatures depicted in children’s books.
The film portrays unicorns as protective parents, hunting down those who harm their young—a unique twist that combines natural animal behavior with mythological elements.
Significance of The Cloisters’ Tapestries
The film contains visual references to the famous unicorn tapestries housed at The Cloisters in New York. These medieval tapestries depict the hunt and capture of a unicorn, themes that parallel the movie’s narrative about humans exploiting something magical and innocent.
The seven tapestries, created between 1495-1505, show a unicorn being hunted, killed, and mysteriously resurrected—symbolizing both Christ and purity. In “Death of a Unicorn,” these images serve as foreshadowing and cultural touchstones.
The vibrant colors and detailed imagery of the tapestries influence the film’s visual style, particularly in scenes depicting the unicorn’s habitat. These artistic references add depth to the story’s exploration of humanity’s relationship with the magical and unknown.
Unicorn Blood Symbolism
Unicorn blood plays a crucial role in the film’s plot, drawing from longstanding myths about its healing properties. Historically, unicorn blood was believed to cure ailments and grant immortality, making it highly sought after.
In “Death of a Unicorn,” this mythological element becomes central to the exploitation narrative. The powerful characters seek to harvest unicorn blood for its valuable properties, echoing historical beliefs that unicorn horn (alicorn) could detect poison and heal sickness.
The film explores the moral implications of using magical creatures for human benefit, a theme that appears in other fantasy works like Harry Potter, where unicorn blood grants life but curses those who consume it. This symbolism reinforces the movie’s commentary on how humans tend to destroy and commodify natural wonders rather than preserving them.
Frequently Asked Questions
“Death of a Unicorn” has generated considerable interest due to its unique premise and star-studded cast. The film combines fantasy elements with dark comedy in A24’s signature style.
When is the official release date for ‘Death of a Unicorn’?
“Death of a Unicorn” is set for release in 2025. The exact date hasn’t been officially announced in wide marketing campaigns yet.
A24 typically positions its releases strategically, often aligning them with film festivals or specific seasonal windows to maximize audience reach.
Who are the main cast members featured in ‘Death of a Unicorn’?
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as the father-daughter duo, Elliott and Ridley. This pairing brings together Rudd’s comedic timing with Ortega’s rising star power.
The film marks their first on-screen collaboration, creating an intriguing dynamic between the established comedy veteran and the younger actress known for her recent dramatic and horror roles.
What is the storyline of ‘Death of a Unicorn’?
The plot follows Elliott and Ridley who accidentally hit a unicorn with their car while driving. Instead of reporting the incident, they bring the magical creature to a wilderness retreat owned by a wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.
This premise sets up both comedic and potentially moral dilemmas as the characters deal with the consequences of their encounter with a mythical being.
Where can ‘Death of a Unicorn’ be watched or streamed online?
As the film is still scheduled for 2025 release, streaming information isn’t yet available. A24 typically follows a traditional theatrical release before moving to digital platforms.
Based on A24’s distribution patterns, the film will likely appear on premium video-on-demand services first, followed by a streaming platform determined by A24’s current distribution agreements.
How does ‘Death of a Unicorn’ compare to other productions by A24 in terms of budget?
Budget details for “Death of a Unicorn” have not been publicly disclosed. A24 productions typically range from low-budget indie films to mid-range productions.
The inclusion of established stars like Paul Rudd suggests this may be on the higher end of A24’s typical budget spectrum, especially considering the likely special effects needed for the unicorn.
What was the critical reception like for ‘Death of a Unicorn’?
Critical reception information is not yet available as the film has not been released or screened for critics. A24 films generally receive substantial critical attention.
Early trailer reactions on platforms like Reddit suggest audience intrigue about the literal rather than metaphorical approach to the unicorn concept, indicating curiosity about the film’s tone and execution.
