Mon Apr 07 04:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega Battle Vengeful Unicorns in A24’s “Death of a Unicorn”
**New York, NY** – Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega star in A24’s darkly comedic horror film, “Death of a Unicorn,” a unique creature feature that premiered March 28th. Rudd plays Elliot, a widowed father who, while on a trip with his daughter (Ortega), accidentally hits a unicorn with his car. His attempt to “put it out of its misery” with a tire iron unleashes a terrifying chain of events.
The film, written and directed by Alex Scharfman, subverts the typical image of the gentle unicorn. Instead, these creatures are vengeful and highly organized, transforming the story from dark comedy into a gory spectacle. The incident with the unicorn throws Elliot into a moral dilemma as he tries to balance his desire to secure a business deal with a wealthy family – who discover the unicorn’s body possesses healing properties – and his responsibilities as a father.
Rudd describes his character as navigating a moral tightrope, attempting to do what’s right while facing pressure to compromise his values. Scharfman explains that the film explores themes of moral relativism and the lengths people will go to justify their actions. He suggests that the true monsters might not be the unicorns, but the wealthy individuals involved.
For Rudd, this role marked a foray into a new genre. While he’s had experience with films that have horror elements, “Death of a Unicorn” offered a deeper dive into the world of genuinely scary cinema. He jokingly draws a line at snuff films, but otherwise remains open to diverse projects. The interview with Rudd and Scharfman was punctuated by technical difficulties, adding a humorous layer to the already bizarre premise of the film.
First Piper 