Death of a Unicorn

Synopsis: When a man and his daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn with their car, his boss tries to exploit the creature's miraculous curative properties -- with horrific results. 

Movie Review:

"Death Of a Unicorn" is a horror comedy directed by first-time director Alex Scharfman. This original film is a satire of the rich and medicine, with an interesting mythology about unicorns that makes it an enjoyable creature feature. What really stands out in this movie is the fantastic and talented cast of actors who bring these over-the-top and sensitive characters to life.

Paul Rudd plays Elliot, a grieving single dad who is incredibly funny, kind, and has a strained relationship with his daughter, which is the heart of the movie. Jenna Ortega plays Ridley, Elliot's daughter, who is my favorite character in the movie. She is kind, funny, goth, and the smartest one in the group. Her storyline is the most moving and engaging.

Will Poulter plays Shepard, a spoiled rich kid who is unlikable, acting like a child, but he provides some of the funniest moments and lines in the movie. Anthony Carrigan as Griff, the family's butler, is treated horribly but has great comedic timing and hilarious moments. Richard E. Grant and Tea Leoni play the rich married couple, who are rich, selfish, and wonderfully unlikeable.

As the second act unfolds, the movie transitions into a horror creature feature reminiscent of "Jurassic Park" and "Aliens," which was one of my favorite parts. It's bloody, gory, and at times, scary. However, the CGI used for the unicorns looks dated and fake, especially towards the end.

My biggest issue with the movie was its predictability. I could easily guess what was going to happen, which was disappointing. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Despite these flaws, "Death Of a Unicorn" is still a fun horror comedy with a lot of creativity. I would give it 3.5/5 stars.

Director: Alex Scharfman 

Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Steve Park, Jessica Hynes with Tea Leoni and Richard E. Grant 

Runtime: 107 Minutes