Death of a Unicorn review

 

A horror comedy like no other we'll probably see this year Death of a Unicorn is a trippy fascinating movie involving Unicorns, magic and a wavering sense of trying to do good for the world. Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd star as a Father / Daughter who while on the way to weekend retreat of his wealthy boss hit a Unicorn in the middle of the road. They don't kill the creature but injure it so much so that it begins to bleed a mysterious purple color. It's horn also glows which Ortega's character touches and upon doing so begins to see things in a very trippy and atmospheric way. The two end up putting the animal in the back of the car and go to the home where they think it's all over but in reality it's just beginning..

Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega strike a good father and daughter relationship throughout here. It is rather cliche in the way they talka and interact but there is real love here and after the passing of Rudd's wife who is Ortega's characters mom it does really look like it's taken it's toll on the two. With a title like Death of a Unicorn you'd be right to expect the death of a Unicorn and while it sort of happens it's a lot more humans who meet their demise as an even bigger, stronger pair of Unicorn's soom come a hunting and boy does it get bloody and pretty gory at some points.

Death of a Unicorn is a wild fun ride filled with blood, gore and some great character moments. Will Poulter is the standout here being the son of Rudd's boss and he is as arrogant and snobby as he is helpless and inept. He plays the role brillaintly and really steals the show on numerous occasions. As for everyone else including Richard E Grant they all do a good job and are really thrown into the deep end both literally and figurativly. There's a good balance struck here between comedy, horror and trippy drug like moments. Death of a Unicorn was a whole lot more fun than I was expecting it to be. It isn't perfect but it is throughly enjoyable filled with gruesome deaths, a sense of dread at times and a bit of magic thrown in for good measure. Enjoyable!

★★★