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Death of a Unicorn premieres at SXSW

Alex Scharfman's film featuring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd explores themes of wealth and greed.

March 9, 2025 at 04:23 PM

Death of a Unicorn review - goofy eat-the-rich satire isn’t fun enough

Alex Scharfman's debut feature struggles to find its footing as a satire on wealth and capitalism.

Death of a Unicorn fails to impress and entertain

Death of a Unicorn, directed by Alex Scharfman, premiered at the SXSW festival, starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd. The film tries to satirize late-stage capitalism while featuring a mystical unicorn. Despite its promising premise, the narrative follows a predictable path, lacking originality and engagement. Characters like Ridley and her father Elliot encounter a unicorn that could symbolize deeper themes, but the execution leaves much to be desired. With clichéd tropes of wealth and a predictable arc, the film ultimately fails to deliver impactful satire, resulting in a tedious viewing experience.

Key Takeaways

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The film lacks originality and depth in its satire.

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Strong performances can't save the predictable plot.

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Scharfman's direction feels derivative of other works.

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The theme of wealth and greed is underexplored despite its potential.

"Philanthropy is just reputation laundering for the oligarchy."

This line captures the film’s commentary on wealth and its moral implications.

"Death of a Unicorn feels longer than its runtime."

This reflects the film's pacing issues and lack of engagement.

"The theme of wealth and greed is underexplored despite its potential."

This critique highlights the film's failure to capitalize on its serious themes.

"The mix of gore and comedy often feels forced."

This outlines a key issue within the film's tonal balance.

While Death of a Unicorn tackles relevant issues about wealth and capitalism, it falls short of offering fresh perspectives. The film serves as a reminder that not every satire must be serious, yet the mix of gore and comedy often feels forced. Audiences may appreciate its attempt at humor but will likely walk away with the sensation of familiarity rather than novelty. The film misses the chance to create a unique voice amidst similar genre entries, signaling a worry that it may fade into the background of an already crowded market of social critiques.

Highlights

This film misses the mark on comedy and depth.
An intriguing premise but a dull execution.
Scharfman needs to find his unique voice in satire.
Not every film about rich elites manages to entertain.

Risk of public backlash due to financial satire

The film's portrayal of wealth and greed could provoke strong reactions from audiences, particularly those sensitive to critical views on capitalism and the ultra-rich.

A fresh take on capitalism may be overdue in modern cinema.

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satire capitalism unicorns comedy SXSW film satire comedy

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