Death of a Unicorn
Death of a Unicorn
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Watch-outs
What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
4/5
Strong
Fear
4/5
Intense
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
2/5
Moderate
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
Death of a Unicorn is a dark fantasy film with strong horror and social satire elements, following a father and daughter who become entangled in the ruthless exploitation of an injured unicorn by a family of billionaires. The tone shifts from whimsical fantasy to intense horror-thriller, with an underlying critique of corporate greed and the destruction of nature. Sensitive elements are significant and frequent: graphic violence includes brutal on-screen killings, characters being torn apart, visible blood and gore, and an escalating series of deadly attacks by the unicorns seeking revenge; a scene depicting a character snorting a substance derived from the unicorn's horn is also present. The violence grows increasingly graphic as the film approaches its climax, making the content clearly unsuitable for young viewers. Parents accompanying a teenager aged 14 and above can use the film as a springboard to discuss themes of exploitation, greed and respect for nature, provided the viewer is comfortable with the codes of fantasy horror.
Synopsis
A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties.
Difficult scenes
In the opening sequence, the father strikes a unicorn with his car and finishes it off violently with a tire iron. The scene is brief but explicit, with blood splashed on both characters. It may shock younger viewers who are not expecting such a scene, especially since it involves a creature typically associated with innocence and gentleness. Several security personnel and scientists at the estate are killed in a brutal and prolonged attack by the large adult unicorn. The killings are shown graphically, with visible injuries and direct physical violence, set against a backdrop of chaos and panic. An adult character (Shepard) snorts powder derived from the unicorn's horn in a scene that explicitly mimics drug consumption. While not glorified, the scene is visually unambiguous and presented in a context of arrogance and excess. A female adult character (Belinda) is killed in a particularly violent manner inside the estate, with the scene depicting her death explicitly. This is one of the most graphic sequences in the film and may leave a lasting impression on sensitive teenage viewers. The adult unicorn tears apart another character (Bhatia) in a bloody and extended scene when he attempts to return the foal without its horn. This revenge sequence represents one of the film's most intense moments of graphic violence.
Where to watch
Availability checked on Apr 06, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2025
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Countries
- United States of America
- Original language
- EN
- Directed by
- Alex Scharfman
- Main cast
- Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will Poulter, Richard E. Grant, Téa Leoni, Sunita Mani, Steve Park, Anthony Carrigan, Jessica Hynes, David Pasquesi
- Studios
- A24, Square Peg, Secret Engine, Ley Line Entertainment, Monoceros Media
Content barometer
Violence
4/5
Strong
Fear
4/5
Intense
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
2/5
Moderate
Narrative complexity
3/5
Complex
Adult themes
2/5
Present
Expert review
Death of a Unicorn is a dark fantasy film with strong horror and social satire elements, following a father and daughter who become entangled in the ruthless exploitation of an injured unicorn by a family of billionaires. The tone shifts from whimsical fantasy to intense horror-thriller, with an underlying critique of corporate greed and the destruction of nature. Sensitive elements are significant and frequent: graphic violence includes brutal on-screen killings, characters being torn apart, visible blood and gore, and an escalating series of deadly attacks by the unicorns seeking revenge; a scene depicting a character snorting a substance derived from the unicorn's horn is also present. The violence grows increasingly graphic as the film approaches its climax, making the content clearly unsuitable for young viewers. Parents accompanying a teenager aged 14 and above can use the film as a springboard to discuss themes of exploitation, greed and respect for nature, provided the viewer is comfortable with the codes of fantasy horror.
Synopsis
A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties.
Difficult scenes
In the opening sequence, the father strikes a unicorn with his car and finishes it off violently with a tire iron. The scene is brief but explicit, with blood splashed on both characters. It may shock younger viewers who are not expecting such a scene, especially since it involves a creature typically associated with innocence and gentleness. Several security personnel and scientists at the estate are killed in a brutal and prolonged attack by the large adult unicorn. The killings are shown graphically, with visible injuries and direct physical violence, set against a backdrop of chaos and panic. An adult character (Shepard) snorts powder derived from the unicorn's horn in a scene that explicitly mimics drug consumption. While not glorified, the scene is visually unambiguous and presented in a context of arrogance and excess. A female adult character (Belinda) is killed in a particularly violent manner inside the estate, with the scene depicting her death explicitly. This is one of the most graphic sequences in the film and may leave a lasting impression on sensitive teenage viewers. The adult unicorn tears apart another character (Bhatia) in a bloody and extended scene when he attempts to return the foal without its horn. This revenge sequence represents one of the film's most intense moments of graphic violence.