It started with a rumor and a very strange title. Then, the posters started appearing. If you’ve been following the indie film circuit lately, you know that A24 doesn't just make movies; they make "events." But even for them, Death of a Unicorn feels like something different. It’s weird. It’s dark. Honestly, it’s exactly the kind of chaotic energy we need in cinema right now.
But let's be real. The main reason people are losing their minds over this flick isn't just the mythical creature in the title. It’s the people on screen. The cast of Death of a Unicorn is a bizarre, brilliant mix of legends and newcomers that feels like it was put together by someone who spent too much time on Film Twitter.
Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega: The Duo We Didn't Know We Needed
You’ve got Paul Rudd. The man doesn't age, and we’ve all accepted that he's basically the internet’s collective dad. Then you’ve got Jenna Ortega, who has effectively become the face of modern horror and "weird girl" energy thanks to Wednesday. Putting them together as a father-daughter duo is a stroke of genius.
In Death of a Unicorn, they play Elliot and Ridley. They’re driving to a crisis management summit—which sounds boring until they accidentally hit a unicorn. Yes, a real one.
Rudd isn't doing his typical "lovable goofball" Ant-Man shtick here. There’s a frantic, nervous energy to his performance that feels more like his early indie work. He’s a guy trying to fix a situation that is fundamentally unfixable. Ortega, meanwhile, brings that grounded, cynical edge that balances out the absurdity of the premise. Their chemistry is the heartbeat of the movie, and without them, the "unicorn" gimmick might have felt a bit too thin.
The Supporting Players: Why the Cast of Death of a Unicorn is Stacked
If you think it's just the Rudd and Ortega show, you’re mistaken. The ensemble is deep.
Richard E. Grant is involved. That’s usually enough to get me into a theater seat. Grant has this incredible ability to play high-society arrogance with a hint of absolute madness. He plays Dell Leopold, a billionaire pharmaceutical mogul. It’s the perfect role for him. He’s the guy who sees a dead unicorn not as a tragedy or a miracle, but as a "bio-pharmaceutical opportunity." It’s cynical, it’s gross, and Grant eats up every second of it.
Then you have Will Poulter and Téa Leoni. Leoni’s return to the big screen is a major win for fans of 90s cinema, and Poulter continues his streak of being one of the most versatile actors of his generation.
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- Will Poulter: Plays a character that feels both threatening and deeply pathetic.
- Téa Leoni: Brings a level of corporate coldness that provides a sharp contrast to the forest-set chaos.
- Anthony Carrigan: If you saw him in Barry, you know he’s a master of "threateningly polite."
- Sunita Mani: Bringing some much-needed comedic timing to the bleaker moments.
Alex Scharfman’s Vision and the A24 Machine
This is Alex Scharfman’s directorial debut, which is wild considering the talent he managed to pull in. Usually, first-time directors have to beg for a cameo. Scharfman got Rudd and Grant.
The movie was filmed in Hungary, which provides this eerie, timeless backdrop that makes the existence of a unicorn feel almost plausible. It’s a dark comedy, sure, but it’s also a satire on corporate greed and the way the ultra-wealthy try to "disrupt" even the most sacred things.
The cast of Death of a Unicorn had to be specific. If the acting was too campy, the satire wouldn't land. If it was too serious, the unicorn bit would look ridiculous. They found a middle ground that feels incredibly uncomfortable—in a good way.
Why the SAG-AFTRA Strike Made This Movie Famous
There was a moment during the 2023 strikes where everything stopped. Except Death of a Unicorn.
Because it was an independent production from A24 (which isn't part of the AMPTP), they were granted an interim agreement. This meant that while the rest of Hollywood was at a standstill, Rudd and Ortega were in the woods with a dead mythical beast. It gave the film a massive amount of early press. People were hungry for news, and "Paul Rudd hits a unicorn" was the headline everyone wanted.
The Plot: More Than Just a Mythical Roadkill
The story kicks off when Elliot (Rudd) takes Ridley (Ortega) to a remote wilderness retreat owned by his billionaire boss. The "accident" happens on the way there.
What happens next isn't just a "hide the body" comedy. It turns into a commentary on how we value life. The Leopold family (Grant and his cohort) realize that the unicorn’s blood and flesh have miraculous healing properties. Suddenly, the creature isn't a magical being; it’s a commodity.
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It’s dark. It’s kind of depressing. But it’s also hilarious.
The way the cast of Death of a Unicorn handles the escalating absurdity is what makes it work. You have to watch Paul Rudd try to maintain his "good guy" persona while literally butchering a myth. It’s a transition that shouldn't work, but it does.
Breaking Down the Character Dynamics
- Elliot (Paul Rudd): The middle-manager who wants to be a hero but is ultimately a cog in the machine.
- Ridley (Jenna Ortega): The moral compass who is rapidly losing faith in her father.
- Dell Leopold (Richard E. Grant): The personification of late-stage capitalism.
There’s a specific scene involving a dinner party where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a horn. The dialogue is snappy, but it’s the silences between the cast members that really sell the horror of the situation.
Is It Actually a Horror Movie?
A lot of people see the A24 logo and Jenna Ortega and assume we’re getting Hereditary with a horn. It's not that.
It’s "Eco-Horror" mixed with "Corporate Satire." Think Succession meets The Ritual. The horror comes from the humans, not the creature. The way the cast of Death of a Unicorn portrays the lack of empathy in the face of magic is the scariest part of the whole film.
Honestly, the "death" in the title is literal, but the "unicorn" might as well be a metaphor for anything pure that gets chewed up by corporate interests.
What Critics Are Saying (And What They’re Getting Wrong)
Early whispers from festivals and screenings suggest that some critics find it "too cynical." I disagree.
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In a world where every movie feels like it was written by a committee to appeal to the widest possible demographic, Death of a Unicorn feels like a fever dream. It’s specific. It’s weirdly paced. It has a scene that will make you never want to look at a smoothie the same way again.
The cast of Death of a Unicorn elevates what could have been a "one-note" joke into a multi-layered character study. You don't just laugh at them; you feel bad for them, and then you're disgusted by them. That's a hard trifecta to pull off.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Moviegoers
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of Death of a Unicorn or just want to be prepared before you head to the theater, here is what you should do:
- Watch "The Menu" or "Triangle of Sadness" first: This movie sits right in that same pocket of "eat the rich" satire. If you enjoyed the tone of those films, you’ll be in the right headspace for this.
- Follow the A24 Shop: Knowing them, they’ll release some incredibly weird, high-quality merchandise. Probably a "Unicorn Meat" candle or something equally bizarre.
- Check out Alex Scharfman’s previous producing work: He worked on Resurrection and The Climb. It’ll give you a sense of the "vibe" he likes—uncomfortable, character-driven, and visually distinct.
- Look for the Soundtrack: John Carpenter and Cody Carpenter did the music. Yes, that John Carpenter. The synth-heavy score is a character in itself and adds a layer of 80s-horror-homage that rounds out the experience.
The film is a reminder that original stories still have a place in Hollywood. You don't need a franchise or a cape to tell a compelling story—sometimes you just need a dead unicorn and a cast willing to get their hands dirty.
Keep an eye on the official release dates in your region, as A24 tends to do staggered rollouts. If it's playing at a local indie theater, go see it there. This isn't a "wait for streaming" movie; it's a "talk about it in the parking lot for an hour" movie.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night
- Verify Showtimes: Use sites like Fandango or Atom Tickets to see if there are early "fan screenings" in your city.
- Deep Dive the Score: Listen to John Carpenter’s recent Lost Themes albums to get a feel for the sonic palette he brings to this film.
- Read Up on the Interim Agreement: If you’re a film nerd, looking into how A24 navigated the 2023 strike provides fascinating context for how this movie actually got finished.