Death of a Unicorn: A Hilarious Bloodbath with Hooves
From the moment I heard about Death of a Unicorn, it went on my must-see list.
Why? First, it stars Paul Rudd, who could read the phone book and still be charming.
Second, it features Jenny Ortega, the reigning queen of deadpan sarcasm and all things spooky.
And third, it’s about unicorns! But before you picture rainbows and sparkles—STOP. This is not My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. This is My Little Pony: Friendship is Murder.
A large chunk of this movie takes place outdoors, in the dark, which made watching it at Luna’s outdoor cinema in Leederville feel like the ultimate immersive experience. Every rustling tree? Potential unicorn attack. Every distant screech? Probably just a bird… or was it? The setting was perfect for amping up the tension, though I did spend a considerable amount of time gripping my partner like a lifeline.
Is Death of a Unicorn scary? Well, it has its fair share of jump scares—one of which had me potentially breaking my partner’s hand (sorry, babe). But it’s not straight-up horror; it’s a gloriously twisted dark comedy filled with just the right amount of over-the-top gore. Yes, I winced. Yes, I covered my eyes at one particularly… horny scene. (You’ll know it when you see it.) But it never felt excessive or like it was trying too hard. Think Scream meets Spree, but with murderous mythical creatures.
If you think you know unicorns, think again. These are not the gentle, magical beings of bedtime stories. These are savage, unhinged, bloodthirsty creatures who have clearly had enough of humanity’s nonsense.
And honestly? I respect that.