When you’re a talent like Jenna Ortega, you’re bound to have a stellar career. After all, she can effortlessly slip into an iconic goth role in Wednesday and hold her own in the opening sequence of Scream where she flexes her horror expertise. But what about Death of a Unicorn? Can she really pull off starring in a movie with that… curious title?
The newly released trailer for the A24 film has certainly left people scratching their heads. The premise? Ripley (Ortega) and her dad, Elliot (played by the forever-young Paul Rudd), accidentally hit a unicorn with their car while on their way to a professional retreat for Elliot. It sounds absurd, and naturally, the internet has been reacting accordingly. One Twitter user summed it up perfectly with a “WTF??????????????????” And honestly, I couldn’t agree more!
Reactions have been all over the place: some are cautiously intrigued, thinking it could either be “amazing or terrible,” while others are curiously drawn in, saying, “Why do I want to see this so bad?” There’s even praise for the originality of the concept, with one person commenting, “Finally, some originality!” Of course, there are also those who are unsure of the film’s genre, calling it a traditional thriller — with a hefty dose of the absurd. The twist? The unicorn’s horn dust is revealed to have miraculous healing properties, possibly even curing cancer. I mean, I’m going to need someone to explain that one.
A24 is known for pushing boundaries with its films, with hits like Lady Bird and Eighth Grade showing its emotional depth, but its horror films — Hereditary, Midsommar, Tusk — are another beast entirely. Death of a Unicorn seems to fit right into the company’s unhinged catalog, but in a strange new way. It’s definitely unique, though I can’t decide whether the premise is more baffling than Spring Breakers (another A24 gem) — which felt more like a fever dream than anything else. That being said, with Hereditary director Ari Aster producing, there’s at least some confidence that there could be more to this movie than its wild premise suggests.
The film doesn’t yet have an official release date, but in the meantime, everyone will have plenty of time to debate whether it’s something they’re eager to watch or totally skip. Either way, getting to see Ortega and Rudd share the screen is definitely a draw — and that alone might be reason enough to give it a shot.