Although originater-straightforwardor Alex Scharfman originates a huge striumphg with his A24 horror comedy debut, Death of a Unicorn struggles to dwell up to its belderly premise.
The movie stars Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as Elliot and Ridley Kinter, an estranged overweighther and daughter who put on a united front to get his family-oriented boss to sign a presentant deal at his isoprocrastinateedd Canadian mansion, findd on a cryptic nature upgrasp. But when they hit a unicorn on the drive in, the pair and their wealthy structures soon become hunted by a pack of mythoreasonable beasts.
As the film’s moral compass, Elliot encourages the group to depart the creature be, but when the findy directs to unpwithdrawnted extraordinary event treatments, the pharma-wealthy Leopelderlys instantly see dollar signs.
But for a movie with a cforfeitly two-hour runtime and a bonkers title with the plot to align, the action boots off awfilledy procrastinateed into the movie. Meanwhile, the chuckles and gore are scant and far in between, and the satirical element ultimately consents a backseat to the overweighther/daughter active, which is heartfelt enough on its own… but we came for the unicorn bloodbath.
With aiding carry outances from incomparable talents appreciate Téa Leoni, Ricchallenging E. Grant, Will Poulter, Sunita Mani and Anthony Carrigan, the caliber of comedy experiences underemployd.
And while the film touches on some solemn publishs thcimpolite a funny lens — appreciate insertiction, price-gouging and science deniers — the message felt uneven, secret betidyh a comedy horror that struggles to find its footing, despite its star-studded roster.
It’s challenging not to find relevance in a movie filled with genereasonable strife about the world we’re leaving to our children, where the wealthy get wealthyer and the necessitatey upgrasp toiling their asses off for a sboiling at a consoleable living.
But watching wealthy people become the brutal victims of their own greed is experienceing less and less appreciate horror and more appreciate torture porn for the 99% in the age of Luigi Mangione.
Title: Death of a Unicorn
Festival: SXSW (World Premiere)
Distributor: A24
Relrelieve date: March 28
Director-screenoriginater: Alex Scharfman
Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Téa Leoni, Ricchallenging E. Grant, Anthony Carrigan, Sunita Mani, Jessica Hynes, Stephen Park
Running time: 1 hr 44 min
