Making a killing in the name of science, but at what cost? Death of a Unicorn Review
- Paige B.
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Death of a Unicorn written and Directed by Alex Scharfman
The players: Jenna Ortega as Ridley, Paul Rudd as Elliot, Will Poulter as Shepard Leoplod, Téa Leoni as Belinda Leopold, Richard E. Grant as Odell Leopold, Anthony Carrigan as Griff, Sunita Mani as Dr. Bhaita.
There is no why, only when. If I have learned anything from my fast few trips to the movie theater it’s that chasing a why is a guaranteed fast pass to when. Death of a Unicorn is a prime example of this fate wrapped in a comedic yet obviously horrific bow; bundling together absurd mythical fanaticism with a genuine concern for the future and preservation of species and nature. Making a killing in the name of science, but at what cost?
Because I am not an asshole I won’t spoil the film for you, instead here is a list of out of context taglines I made for the movie to hopefully convince you to see Death of a Unicorn in theaters near you:
Why do drugs when you could do a unicorn.
Some die for something, others die trying.
Don’t fuck with fairy tales.
Killer title card, even killer white folk.
Have a laugh while having an existential crisis about the preservation of species and the planet.
Payback isn’t just a beast, it’s a democratic daughter.
On March 28th, Death of a Unicorn released in theaters to an opening box office of $5,787,425 from 3,050 cinemas. That’s pretty low if you consider a $15 million dollar budget, stacked cast, and A24 strapped to the project. My question regarding how to get people to the movie theater still stands, however things were looking better in terms of box office numbers with A Working Man leading at $15.2 million. It seems people are willing to leave their house and go to the movies, just not a certain type. That being said, I loved Death of a Unicorn and had the pleasure of a packed theater to watch it alongside my sister and I- even if the majority were creepy couples under blankets- I’m just glad people were in the theater.
Death of a Unicorn, written and directed by Alex Scharfman, follows a father-daughter duo Elliot and Ridley, who accidentally hit and kill a unicorn on their drive to the father’s employer's family estate. When Elliot’s boss, Odell Leopold, wants to exploit the findings of said unicorn for money and fame the entire ensemble is met with more than just a miracle. Aside from the shocking humor and satirical elements of this film, led by Will Poulter’s impeccable timing and gauche demeanor, Death of a Unicorn offers many lessons to its audience regarding greed, politics, sociology, psychology, and mythology. The film is based on the 1984 novel of the same title written by Peter Dickinson. Will audiences resonate with those lessons, sure but for me the film left me with more questions than answers- in the absolute best way possible.
Cinema tends to reflect and emphasize the societal issues and concerns of its respective time, in the instance of Death of a Unicorn, this film works to highlight fears surrounding a multitude of realities we are currently living through- especially in the United States. Fears involving the climate crisis, the preservation of national parks, access to healthcare, oligarchic leadership, the excruciating gap between the wealthy elites and the working class, even corporate greed just to name a few. The Leopold family represents that of these elite, well-off families who have control over fundamental organizations, being a family that runs pharmaceutical companies. Their accidental discovery of this majestic unicorn and its healing capabilities leads to the commodification and exploitation of the species for an imagined whopping profit. Had Elliot not been so careless when driving to the Leopold's family estate nobody would have ever discovered the mythical creature and I really loved that happenstance in the film. Often our own disregard or recklessness leads to great discoveries, when handed over to the wrong people these accomplishments are diminished due to their greed and lack of consideration for the future, or the planet as a whole.
I thought this film delivered a sharp, satirical critique of these issues through its dark humor. Yet, it still leaves me deeply uneasy. As much as these films reflect society's flaws, I doubt the elites they're exposing will watch and think, 'Maybe we should stop exploiting people and the planet for profit.' So the question remains—if the message isn’t reaching those in power, where do we go from here?I felt very similarly with Mikey 17 that was released in theaters in March as well. Cinema, since its birth, has been a reflection of the times but at what point does it actually become the catalyst for change?
On a lighter note, I thought Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd delivered a near perfect performance of clueless father and melancholic daughter navigating their relationship after the passing of their wife and mother. Their relationship is genuine, which directly contrasts that of the Leopold family who are constantly putting on a show of greed and arrogance. My favorite line in the film comes from Belinda when speaking down to Ridley about her growing concern for the safety of the unicorn, she says, “Do we really have to perform for one another?” Especially because the Leopold family insisted on Elliot performing for them as a good father and family man earlier in the film. These contradictions helped to create and emphasize the nature of the Leopold family in regard to their philanthropy and commitment to nature and science; they only care if it means they get something in return whether that be fame or finances- and with the discovery and exploitation of the unicorn they are guaranteed both.
Death of a Unicorn offers many lessons but one in particular is in regards to the “ask for forgiveness, not permission” ideology. When the Leopold family is slowly taken out by the unicorn one by one they beg and plead for protection and assistance, yet they didn’t seem to care about the protection of a rare species whatsoever. The film itself is easy enough to comprehend, and so are its deep messaging regarding the multitude of problems I addressed before. Aside from the politics, the biggest takeaway I received from the film was that Will Poulter really is a star.
Everyone in this film works so well together as an ensemble to capture the different classes of society, from the wealthy to the working, to the sick and the poor- it truly is a genius film in every single aspect. The production design of the Leopold family estate was rich with texture and depth, I loved how it created the sense of comfort and luxury and most importantly seclusion from society. They are so out of touch with reality and so far away from it as well in their massive mansion. There is a cross between a home and a sterile environment that works to juxtapose the beauty and sanctity of nature while showing the destruction of it at the same time, in the name of profit. The tapestries depicting the lore of the unicorn were fascinating and I loved how they served as a prophecy in a way, of course Ridley figured that all out as she was the only character who seems to care about people outside of herself. Unlike her father who was preoccupied with brown nosing the Leopold family under the guise of protecting and ensuring Ridley’s future. Meanwhile the Leopold family is obviously abusing Elliot’s naivety to not only their profession, but the severity of this unicorn discovery as well.
All in all Death of a Unicorn is a fantastic film, it’s hilarious; striking; jarring; gory; gluttonous; but most of all it’s a warning. I am unsure if that warning will reach the people it’s poking fun at, but here’s to hoping. It feels like these films that mock certain aspects of our complacency within society should be its own genre, reflecting just how bad it can get for the rest of us if we don’t do something to stop these institutions from moving forward. Films such as The Menu, Triangle of Sadness, Mickey 17, Sorry to Bother You, Don’t Look Up, The Lobster, Parasite, even Anora. If you have the time I’d highly recommend seeing this film in theaters, if you’re lucky enough to have a packed theater like I did you’re in for a real treat listening to everyone’s gasps and guffaws. Always remember, There is no why, only when, chasing a why is a guaranteed fast pass to when. If you happen to see a unicorn out in the wild keep walking, if you see anything beautiful for that matter leave it be before it’s just a mere memory- like parts of the amazon of the ozone or soon to be polar bears. Till next time stay flirty, stay thirsty, watch more movies together, make more movies together. Cin Cin.
See you soon,
Paige B.
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