Death of a Unicorn: A24's Black Comedy Reimagines Mythical Creatures
A24's black comedy 'Death of a Unicorn' stars Paul Rudd as Elliot Kintner and Jenna Ortega as his daughter Ridley, who accidentally hit a unicorn while driving in the Canadian Rockies. The unicorn, possessing healing powers, survives, sparking a violent conflict with the Leopold family, led by dying pharmaceutical magnate Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant). The film features three unicorns designed by Zoic Studios (Vancouver), Filmefex (Budapest), and Wētā Workshop (New Zealand). Director Scharfman drew inspiration from 15th-century unicorn tapestries, including the Hunt of the Unicorn series at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Cloisters, originally owned by the French La Rochefoucauld family. The film explores themes of science versus folklore, greed, and revenge. It releases in Italian theaters on April 10 via I Wonder Pictures.
Key facts
- Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star as father and daughter Elliot and Ridley Kintner.
- Richard E. Grant plays Odell Leopold, a dying pharmaceutical magnate.
- The unicorn has healing powers and can save itself.
- Three unicorns appear in the film.
- Zoic Studios designed the creatures and created digital effects.
- Filmefex built puppets and key props.
- Wētā Workshop developed initial creature concepts.
- The film references the 15th-century Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries at the Met Cloisters.
Entities
Artists
- Paul Rudd
- Jenna Ortega
- Richard E. Grant
- Scharfman
- Margherita Bordino
Institutions
- A24
- I Wonder Pictures
- Zoic Studios
- Filmefex
- Wētā Workshop
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- La Rochefoucauld family
- Artribune
Locations
- Canadian Rockies
- Vancouver
- Budapest
- New Zealand
- New York
- France