Written by John Edward Betancourt  Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as Elliot Kintner and Ridley Kintner in Alex Scharfman’s DEATH OF A UNICORN. (Photo Courtesy of A24.) It is definitely safe to say that horror, is the smartest genre out there. Simply because it does a phenomenal job of exploring the problems of the world in a manner that is compelling, impactful and timeless to say the least. For we are still debating and pouring over what George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead had to say about consumerism, and the same goes for John Carpenter’s Halloween and its thoughts on murder and sex, and even the great slashers of this genre have so much to say about who we are as a people. But while this genre has indeed mastered how best to get a message across and offers some fine scares in the process, it doesn’t always necessarily stick the landing when it comes to what it wants the audience to ponder upon. For sometimes, the message and the commentary can be delivered in a heavy-handed manner where it is not quite as impactful, and sometimes the message gets lost in the majesty of effects and a grander and/or sillier idea. In fact, this can all be tied to horror stories that are eager to speak upon humanity’s flawed relationship with nature. Since so many of those movies use big concepts and even bigger special effects to get their point across. But being the smartest genre, it knows how to adapt and learn and grow, and thanks to that we are finally seeing horror films that have found a way to talk about bigger ideas without losing sight of the message, and for proof… look no further than the brand-new horror comedy from A24, Death of a Unicorn. Which is a story that introduces us to a father and daughter named Elliot and Ridley Kintner, who are going through quite a few crises at the moment. After all, they’re trying to find their footing after the loss of Elliot’s wife and Ridley’s mother, and a business trip/getaway to shore up their financial security, is growing more complicated by the hour. Because on their way to the posh Leopold estate, they just so happen to hit an animal in the Leopold Nature Preserve, specifically, a unicorn. Which of course, they try to hide, to keep Elliot from potentially losing this cush and wallet enriching gig. But soon the secret is out and Odell Leopold, the head of the family and the Leopold business empire… is more intrigued than angry. Because it doesn’t take long for everyone to discover that unicorn flesh and bone, has healing properties that could be monetized and change the course of humanity forever. Provided of course, it can be safely harvested since this little unicorn, is not alone, and its cohorts are looking for it.  Which is… the perfect way to explore our rotten relationship with the world. Because whether we want to admit it or talk about it or not… humanity, and its belief that it is the overlord of the planet, uses that belief to rob nature of its beauty. To the point where we pillage the natural world often and consume its resources with a hideous ferocity and truly, the Leopold family is the embodiment of that. And seeing them want more and more from that unicorn body, as they come to understand what it can do for them and their health… adds to that reflection and speaks to how perhaps we need to temper our expectations and think of new solutions for our problems. All so that we don’t rob the world of what makes it lovely in the namesake of progress, and so the world doesn’t strike back in response. As it has in the past, and that is expressed via the understanding… that this unicorn has cohorts.
That in turn, brings about the horror elements, and the film delivers there as well. Courtesy of some wonderful camera work, quality jump scares and gore that is impactful and horrifying to say the least. In fact, there is one moment of gore here that will be long remembered by fans, because of the savagery and splatter that it provides. But while it is lovely to enjoy guts and goo, and fine commentary on how our arrogance causes more harm than good… that doesn’t quite explain how this movie course corrects old mistakes on such matters to make it all impactful and thoughtful and believe it or not… that’s handled via the fact that this movie harbors comedy elements. The kind that allows for the incredible plot to never become too big for its britches, since the jokes add levity and ground the viewer in the fact that they’re enjoying an intelligent film that wants to entertain as well. That does indeed, allow for the message to stick since the wondrous jokes are satirical and pointed in nature and get the point across and it also doesn’t hurt that the jokes are delivered by top-tier performances from actors that can do it all. Since everyone in this story sells the funny and the serious moments with ease and all of these elements give rise to one of the most refreshing monster movies in years. Because this one has it all, really. It’s fun, it’s smart, and it knows how to get its message across in an impactful manner that stays with you long after the wild nature of the story comes to a close, and that makes this a must-see feature. Because this one really is something special and something original, and you simply cannot go wrong with a horror feature that offers this level of intelligence and fun.
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