Director: Alex Scharfman
Writer: Alex Scharfman
Stars: Jenna Ortega, Paul Rudd, Anthony Carrigan
Synopsis: Father-Daughter duo Elliott and Ridley hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a mega-wealthy pharmaceutical CEO.
As a distributor, A24 has developed a reputation for weirdness. Yes, their slate of films year over year has diversified, but they stick closely to that weird vibe. It’s a vibe they cultivate well, but it’s also a vibe that is getting very tired. Unfortunately, Death of a Unicorn is part of that tired wave and is a weird film that’s somehow aggressively plain.
Like most horror comedies of the past few years, Death of a Unicorn is actually about capitalism. Studios and producers latch onto the latest thing and twist it like a damp cloth, wringing it and wringing it until there’s nothing left. This particular metaphor they’re wringing too hard, at this point. Even though many of these producers and studios are aligned, at least monetarily, with the antagonist elites portrayed in the films they produce, the strangeness of their greenlighting these projects comes into focus. By seeing these films we are enriching the people we have come to cheer against. Thus, we are doing exactly as these filmmakers are attempting to warn us not to do. All anti-capitalist coded films not self-produced, then, are inherently capitalist ventures.
That is what you think about as you watch Death of a Unicorn. You think about this because what’s in front of you, in spite of the shiny new trappings, is what we’ve been seeing in these types of horror comedies the last few years. In fact, you might have seen some of the broad strokes of this plot earlier this month in the anti-capitalist sci-fi comedy Mickey 17. There’s no new take on this metaphor, barely new dialogue spoken, and the characters are, all too annoyingly familiar archetypes. The film is so predictable you’ll sigh in your theater seat as you mutter, “unicorn horn puncture in 3…2…1…”
In spite of the overall lackluster script, there are some intriguing pieces of filmmaking that make this film watchable Larry Fong is an excellent cinematographer. He can make CGI integration feel seamless, like the actors were really interacting with creatures. It is all in the angles he chooses to shoot.
Ron Dulin’s editing is also excellent. He creates some of the best “getting ready to leave” montages here. Whether it’s getting from the airport to a secluded compound or packing the essentials for escape from the same compound now overrun with unicorns, these quick time lapses are delightful. His best work is unable to be described in full because it would be a spoiler, but suffice it to say he creates a terrific set up whose payoff is one of the least predictable parts of the film.
There were some standouts among the cast as well. Will Poulter as the heir to the pharmaceutical business, Shepherd, is zany and off beat. He steals every scene he’s in and while his jokes don’t always land quite right, you can’t help but chuckle at his timing or a look he shoots at his scene partners. Though, the best character is weary and put upon Griff, played by Anthony Carrigan. Carrigan’s timing, physicality, and expressive face make him the best person to watch in the background. The way he sighs with both exhaustion and disdain is absolutely perfect.
It’s hard to seem even-handed, but, even though it’s predictable, not scary, and the jokes are overcooked, Death of a Unicorn isn’t a bad watch. It’s a film that has good qualities in a banal package. Which, again, banal isn’t the word you want when your characters are fighting over and running from unicorns. Your mileage may vary with this one.
