Death of a Unicorn (A24) Review — A Whimsical Descent into Corporate Darkness

A24’s Death of a Unicorn is a strange beast — part dark comedy, part environmental parable, and part offbeat family drama. With a title that practically begs for curiosity, the film delivers on its promise of the bizarre, though not without stumbling over its own ambition.

The story follows a father-daughter duo (played charmingly by Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega) who accidentally hit a unicorn with their car. What unfolds is less a whimsical fantasy and more a cynical takedown of corporate greed, as a shadowy biotech company seeks to harvest the creature’s supposed healing properties. The result is a film that bounces between satire, body horror, and tender moments of humanity — sometimes brilliantly, other times jarringly.

Director Alex Scharfman, in his feature debut, demonstrates a clear vision and boldness that fits snugly within the A24 brand. The film’s visuals are striking, especially the unicorn itself — ethereal yet unsettling. The tone, however, is less consistent. At times, it feels like the film wants to be a zany Wes Anderson-esque romp; at others, it veers into Black Mirror territory. Not all of it meshes.

What saves Death of a Unicorn is its heart. The chemistry between Rudd and Ortega is the emotional anchor amid the absurdity. Their relationship brings warmth and weight to a film that could have easily drowned in its own weirdness.

In the end, Death of a Unicorn is a unique ride — funny, uncomfortable, and thought-provoking — even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing. It’s not an instant classic, but it's an intriguing entry in A24’s ever-growing catalog of oddball cinema.

Verdict: A flawed but fascinating fable that’s as much about extinction of innocence as it is about unicorns.