Death of a Unicorn review: A24's Strange Beast

Death of a Unicorn (2025)

Death of a Unicorn delivers the kind of typical A24 weirdness fans have come to expect—part satire, part horror, all strange. With a star-studded cast including Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, and Will Poulter, the film balances dark comedy and horror with a knowingly absurd tone.

Though Rudd seems tailor-made for this offbeat tale, it’s Will Poulter who steals the spotlight, playing up to the buffoonery. The movie leans heavily into its campy premise—a unicorn hit-and-run spiraling into pharmaceutical greed and corporate madness—with mixed success.

Richard E. Grant and Téa Leoni are hilariously over-the-top as a grotesquely wealthy power couple, their mansion as gaudy as their morals are bankrupt. In contrast, Anthony Carrigan surprises as their eerily calm servant, delivering a delightful dark-horse performance.

It feels like a twisted blend of Jurassic Park and Cocaine Bear; the film’s creature effects leave something to be desired—less-than-stellar CGI occasionally pulls viewers out of the experience. Pacing issues slow the momentum in the parts, but it’s still entertaining enough to keep you curious about what could happen next.

Whether the film’s camp enhances or distracts from its social commentary is up for debate, but one thing’s certain: Death of a Unicorn is unlike anything else this year so far.

3.5/5