Death of a Unicorn: A24 Delivers a Darkly Absurd

Death of a Unicorn 2025, HuraWatch Movie, emerges as one of A24’s boldest cinematic statements, blending absurdist black comedy with chilling horror to create a fable that sears itself into the cultural consciousness. Directed by Alex Scharfman and starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega, the film confronts the audience with a stark examination of corporate greed, ecological devastation, and moral compromise, all through the unlikely lens of a mythical creature’s death. Set against the sterile, soulless backdrop of a biotech corporate retreat, the film follows Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Riley (Jenna Ortega) who, on their way to the event, accidentally kill a unicorn. This moment of tragic absurdity triggers a frenzy among the corporate elites, who see not a miraculous discovery but a goldmine of marketable biotechnology. As executives scramble to claim and commodify the creature’s remains, Death of a Unicorn exposes the machinery of exploitation with surgical precision, satirizing the greenwashed veneer of corporate responsibility.

Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega – A Father-Daughter Bond in a Broken World

Rudd and Ortega’s chemistry forms the emotional core of the film. Rudd’s Elliot, a well-meaning but complicit corporate employee, is caught between loyalty to his employer and love for his daughter. Ortega’s Riley, deeply aware of the environmental and ethical stakes, challenges the system with righteous fury and wry skepticism.

Their dynamic grounds the narrative, making the moral conflict not just thematic but deeply personal. Through their performances, we witness the human cost of systemic rot.

Visual and Auditory Storytelling – A Haunting Aesthetic

Cinematographer Hunter Zimny crafts an atmosphere of pervasive unease, balancing sterile corporate interiors with eerie woodland exteriors. The unicorn itself is depicted in grotesque beauty—a poignant symbol of corrupted innocence.

Composer Alex Somers’ score oscillates between dreamlike melancholy and jarring discord, perfectly complementing the film’s tonal shifts from dark comedy to chilling horror.

Key Themes – Greed, Exploitation, and Environmental Collapse

The narrative layers multiple thematic concerns, offering a rich tapestry of critique:

Capitalist Exploitation: The unicorn becomes a literal resource to be mined, symbolizing nature’s commodification.
Greenwashing Hypocrisy: Corporate executives speak in hollow environmentalist slogans while plotting exploitation.
Moral Cowardice: Elliot’s internal struggle mirrors society’s broader failure to act decisively against systemic corruption.

The Unicorn as Symbol – Innocence in a World of Exploitation

The unicorn, traditionally a symbol of purity and magic, is here stripped of its mythical invincibility. Its death represents the ultimate desecration of wonder by unchecked capitalism. It is not merely a plot device but a haunting symbol of what is lost when profit supersedes preservation.

Narrative Structure – Darkly Comedic Descent into Horror

Scharfman structures the film as a slow spiral into madness. Initial moments of deadpan humor give way to increasingly grotesque revelations as corporate doublespeak masks escalating atrocities. The tonal shifts are deliberate, underscoring the absurdity of real-world corporate malfeasance.

Death of a Unicorn Ending Explained – An Inevitable Tragedy

The climax sees the corporate retreat devolve into chaos as the executives’ infighting turns violent. Riley attempts to expose the truth but faces insurmountable barriers. Ultimately, the film suggests that while individuals may act morally, systemic forces are resilient and ruthless.

The final image—nature reclaiming the unicorn’s remains—offers a bittersweet note. It is both a mourning of loss and a subtle assertion that some forces remain beyond human control.

Comparisons to Other A24 Films – A New Standard for Satirical Horror

Death of a Unicorn shares thematic DNA with The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Under the Silver Lake, but carves its own niche with its ferocious satirical bite. Unlike the more meditative horror of Hereditary or Midsommar, Scharfman’s debut leans into absurdism to unearth uncomfortable truths.

Critical Reception – Dividing Audiences and Critics Alike

Early reviews highlight the film’s daring approach:

Praises: Strong performances, fearless satire, rich symbolism.
Criticisms: Some find the tone jarring; others criticize the lack of clear resolution.
Consensus: A challenging but deeply rewarding cinematic experience.

Conclusion – A Dark Masterpiece of Modern Satire

Death of a Unicorn stands as a scathing indictment of modern capitalism disguised as a surreal, darkly comic fable. A24 has delivered another unforgettable entry into their canon of boundary-pushing cinema, one that lingers long after viewing, challenging audiences to question the systems they inhabit. Through its fearless narrative, brilliant performances, and chilling visual storytelling, it earns its place as one of the most important films of the year—a brutal, beautiful elegy for innocence lost in the corporate age.

Death of a Unicorn Review: A24 Delivers a Darkly Absurd, Sharp-Edged Fable