Death of a Unicorn attempts to blend comedy, family-friendly elements, and monster movie thrills, but the result is a tonal mess. The film tries to juggle multiple genres at once, but it never quite hits the mark. While the movie has moments of potential, it’s clear that the balancing act required to make these tones work seamlessly is beyond its grasp.

‘Death of a Unicorn’ is a death by a thousand incoherent cuts

At its core, Death of a Unicorn presents a whimsical tale of a two families’ strange encounter with a mythical creature, a unicorn. The premise sets up an intriguing story, offering plenty of opportunities for humor and fantasy. However, the film’s attempts to mix supernatural horror, slapstick comedy, and emotional family drama result in confusion. One minute, the film offers laugh-out-loud moments, and the next, it tries to build a tense monster movie atmosphere. This constant shift in tone leaves the audience unsure of what to feel.

The comedy elements are often forced. The characters are quirky, but the humor feels more like an afterthought than a natural part of the story. There’s an attempt to make the family dynamic both relatable and funny, but it rarely lands. Instead of developing the characters in meaningful ways, the film uses exaggerated jokes that feel out of place. This is especially jarring when the tone quickly shifts to something darker or more serious.

‘Death of a Unicorn’ is bad, but could any horror film about unicorns have worked?

The monster movie aspects are equally unconvincing. The unicorn, which should be a mystical, captivating creature, is rendered in a way that doesn’t match the tone of the film. It tries to be both menacing and magical, but the execution doesn’t capture either side convincingly. Instead of creating tension or awe, the unicorn feels like a poorly conceived plot device that doesn’t belong in either the horror or the fantasy genre.

Then, the family drama. The film attempts to delve into deep emotional moments with the characters, but these moments often feel too heavy for a story that is meant to be fun. The transition from heartfelt family scenes to absurd comedy or supernatural horror is jarring. This back-and-forth leaves the emotional moments feeling shallow and disconnected from the rest of the story. Rather than grounding the film in real emotion, these moments come off as forced.

Only a genius could have pulled this off

The biggest issue with Death of a Unicorn is the lack of coherence in its tone. It is trying to do too much at once. A genius filmmaker might be able to pull off this high-wire act, balancing all the different genres into a cohesive and unique story. Unfortunately, the filmmakers here struggle to make it work. The end result is more of a chimera than a unicorn.

In conclusion, Death of a Unicorn could have been a creative and fun experience. However, its failure to find a consistent tone leaves it feeling like a missed opportunity. Blending comedy, horror, and family elements doesn’t feel smooth or intentional, making the film a confusing viewing experience. While it has moments that show potential, it ultimately falls short of what it could have been.