Magically horrific: ‘Death of a Unicorn’ leans more into laughs than screams

Some horror movies are funny because they’re morbidly grotesque. Others are funny because they’re appalling and tragic. “Death of a Unicorn” falls into the latter category.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t any gore in this horror/comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega as an estranged father and daughter on a mountain retreat. There is, but it’s not center stage as an uber-wealthy family, their servants, and the father/daughter duo navigate the magical (and deadly) unknown. In the balance between comedy and horror, “Death of a Unicorn” leans more toward comedy.

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Elliott (Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Ortega) are en route to a mansion in the woods at the invitation of the Leopold dynasty. The trip is mostly business, however, as Elliott attempts to suck up to the Leopold family, for the betterment of his own. But a chance encounter with a unicorn alters their journey. The Leopolds have big (business) plans for this magical wonder. Elliott sees dollar signs. And Ridley sees what nobody else can. All parties play tug-of-war over the discovery, but soon find out that the real war is galloping their way.

“Death of a Unicorn” carves comedy out of contrast: the stereotypical majestic unicorn of fantasy lore, and the consequences of being on the wrong end of that horn. It stretches this gimmick as far as it can over a character arc that is truly what this film is about: family bonds.

While it offers some bloody entrails, “Death of a Unicorn” mostly gives you quips and jokes, ridiculous scenarios, and magical absurdity. Its magic, however, isn’t enough to push this creature feature too far above average. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth watching. For horror fans, it is. For comedy fans, certainly. And it does offer a few unexpected treats in defiance of horror movie standards.

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You can simply enjoy the frights and delights on the screen. But as with any good sci-fi or horror story, there are deeper concepts and morals underneath it all. “Death of a Unicorn” explores the dynamics that bond families together, whether they are pure or toxic. It dabbles with the classic humans-vs-nature debate. And it plays with the balance between ideals and greed. It prompts the audience to question where their own ethical lines may be when sacrificing their souls for the benefit of their loved ones. How much are you willing to grind at that job so your kid can have a roof over their head?

"Death of a Unicorn"

3.5/5 stars

Screen or stream? It’s safe to stream this movie. It is certainly best viewed with an audience/friends for maximum fun, so take that into account. Get rainbow-colored popcorn. Make some unicorn cookies. Have fun. But there is nothing spectacular here that requires a big screen.

Rated R: Gore, scary scenes, language and straight up insensitivity to unicorns.

Good for kids? No. Don’t be fooled. The title states “unicorn” but this is not an animated children’s movie. After all, the title also says “death."