Death of a Unicorn (2025) Review

Jurassic Park, but with unicorns. 

Writer-director Alex Scharfman, in his directorial debut, presents a creature feature with comedic flair. Starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega with an epic supporting cast of Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, and Will Poulter, Death of a Unicorn is about what happens when rich white people do what they do best: colonize. 

When Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega), are on their way to his boss's estate in the mountains, he accidentally hits a baby unicorn crossing the road. After killing and placing the unicorn in the back of their truck, the two arrive at the estate where a cancer-riddled Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant) and his family were waiting to hear his proposal. Their attempt to hide the unicorn fails when it seemingly is revived. As everyone surrounds the now dead again, unicorn, they realize that there is something special about it, and rich white people do what rich white people do. 

Taking his cue from Jurassic Park with its action sequences, Scharfman does his best to inject some emotion and care into his unicorn-fueled comedy. Elliot and Ridley's dynamic is that of a broken family after a huge loss. But it comes off as empty and flat. On the other hand, the cast lifts the heavy burden of carrying this film with grace. Will Poulter does his thing through every scene he's in. He's a nepo baby opportunist who has a large-format printer just on standby. And Anthony Carrigan, who plays Griff, the Leopolds' butler, is a refreshing addition to the cast.

The film is bloody. Way more bloody than I was expecting. There are some strong kills and they make the film worth the watch. I'm always down for some blood and guts. Death of a Unicorn is a fun time and nothing more. It attempts to say more about grief and big pharma, but its themes are not strong enough to make an impact.