Trailers have the power to greatly enhance a film’s appeal. Effectively crafted trailers are vivid, captivating, and subtly suggest an enjoyable experience. This was certainly true for the 2025 dark-fantasy thriller, “Death of a Unicorn.” The hope was that the film would deliver satisfaction equal to the excitement the trailer generated.
Lifeblood of The Story
This hour and 47-minute feature stars the talented Jenny Ortega and Paul Rudd. Written and directed by Alex Scharfman, the film presents a dark and twisted narrative about a magical creature of fantasy. While unicorns have long been associated with magic and the allure of enchantment, this film portrays them in an entirely new light, revealing a dark edge that transforms them into fearsome beasts.
Establishing Context and Tone
The narrative is skillfully established, providing viewers with essential information in the first few minutes of the film through unspoken imagery, a crucial aspect of principal photography. Moviegoers are introduced to the daughter, Ridley, and her father, Elliot. From the opening frame, it’s evident that they share a bond, yet there is an evident distance between them. Eliot’s meticulous nature and his misguided value system are hinted at by a dropped slip of paper. We notice the signs on the plane seats before it becomes explicitly clear that they are in Canada. The opening reassures us that we are in capable hands.
The Moral Underpinning
Within the first 15 minutes, we are fully immersed in the story. Eliot’s obsession with making a good impression causes him to collide with a unicorn, kicking off the journey and propelling the story forward. His actions serve as a catalyst for everything that comes after. Viewers quickly understand where the story is going and the point being made: greed is a destructive force, some things are best left alone, and it is always easier to make the right choice than to suffer the consequences of a bad decision. The most blaring lesson is that fairytales can transform into nightmares.
This group attempts to cross nature for self-gain. They are driven by this grandiose idea that nature can be conquered. They are taught a very gruesome and painful lesson, bringing them back around to reason, some fatalistically.
The Narrative Arc: From Conflict to Resolution
There is one intelligent person in the group, and she is the outlier, as expected. There isn’t enough to inspire a deep and lasting engagement. There is sufficient motivation for us to wish for her success, even if it stems from the notion that her failure would result in the triumph of ignorance. That is enough to bring us on board.
Like most fairytales, the story does have a relatively satisfactory ending, one where we can say the good guys win and nature recognizes who deserves a little assistance and those who don’t. You can currently watch Death of a Unicorn on HBOMax.
Uncut Diamonds 