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What is the plot?
Elliot Kintner, a lawyer struggling to secure a stable future for his teenage daughter Ridley, embarks on a weekend trip with her to the remote estate of his employer, the ailing billionaire Odell Leopold, nestled in the Canadian Rockies. Elliot battles a persistent allergic reaction during the journey, while Ridley remains detached and indifferent to the trip's purpose. Their uneasy road trip takes a surreal turn when Elliot accidentally strikes a baby unicorn with their vehicle. They pull over, and Ridley, drawn to the creature's glowing horn, touches it and is instantly transported into a vivid, cosmic vision filled with psychedelic imagery. This transcendent moment is abruptly ended when Elliot, believing the creature to be suffering, mercilessly bludgeons it with a tire iron, splattering both of them with its blood.
Upon arrival at the Leopold estate, Elliot and Ridley meet Odell, who is gravely ill with cancer, his wife Belinda, and their son Shepard. Elliot aims to finalize a business deal, while Ridley wrestles with guilt over the unicorn incident. Soon, the car they arrived in begins to shake violently, drawing the attention of everyone present. Outside, they discover the baby unicorn is still alive, desperately trying to break free. However, the Leopolds' assistant Shaw shoots the creature dead, ending its struggle. The group then notices a remarkable effect: both Elliot and Ridley find their ailments mysteriously cured--Ridley's acne vanishes, and Elliot's allergies and vision improve. Fascinated by this miraculous healing property, Odell commands his team of scientists, including Dr. Song and Dr. Bhatia, to study the unicorn's blood and horn, hoping to develop a medical breakthrough that could cure diseases like cancer and be monetized for immense profit.
As the Leopolds' scientific team extracts samples from the unicorn's horn and blood, Odell himself is rapidly cured of his cancer after receiving an intravenous injection of a concoction derived from the horn. Meanwhile, Shepard experiments with the horn's powdered essence, snorting it like a drug, which triggers visions similar to those Ridley experienced, forging a strange connection between him and the unicorn. Ridley, increasingly disturbed by the exploitation of the creature, reads about The Unicorn Tapestries, including a speculative restoration of the missing details from "The Unicorn Surrenders to a Maiden," and argues that the Leopolds are desecrating a sacred being. Her concerns are dismissed by the family, who are blinded by greed.
The tension escalates when a spectacular aurora borealis appears in the sky above the estate, signaling the arrival of two enormous black unicorns--the parents of the baby. These majestic creatures violently attack the estate's inhabitants, killing Dr. Song by ramming their horn through his body, leaving a gruesome gaping wound. The black unicorns continue their rampage, crushing a guard's head and dragging Shaw into the woods, where her fate remains unseen but grim. Elliot scrambles to protect Ridley, who attempts to communicate with the black unicorns, but their efforts are thwarted when armed guards arrive and shoot at the creatures, wounding one, which escapes into the forest.
Odell organizes a hunting party to track down the black unicorns, insisting that Elliot join. Shepard, emboldened by his visions and intoxicated by the horn's power, orders Dr. Bhatia to saw off the baby unicorn's horn, severing Ridley's mystical connection to the creature. Ridley discovers through her own research that the baby unicorn is not truly dead but possesses regenerative abilities. As Elliot and the hunting party venture into the woods, they fall into a deadly trap set by the black unicorns, resulting in multiple casualties, including Odell and several security personnel. The surviving members retreat to the estate, where the black unicorns follow, revealing their intent to reclaim their offspring.
Back at the estate, the black unicorns break in, brutally killing Belinda by impaling her through the shoulder and disemboweling Dr. Bhatia after discovering the baby unicorn's missing horn. Shepard escapes the initial attack but later captures Ridley, holding her at arrow-point. Having experienced visions himself, Shepard understands that the unicorns are docile toward those they perceive as pure-hearted, and he plans to use Ridley as bait to lure the creatures for further exploitation.
Elliot, moved by Ridley's pleas and his own change of heart, steals the severed horn and attempts to return it to the black unicorns to restore peace. In a climactic confrontation, Elliot stabs Shepard with the horn, but Shepard retaliates by stabbing Elliot with an arrow. The mother unicorn then violently bucks Shepard in the head, killing him instantly. As Elliot lies dying, Ridley mourns over him, recounting the visions she experienced. Miraculously, the black unicorns use their mystical powers to revive both Elliot and their baby, reattaching the horn to the foal's head. The parent unicorns' coats turn white like their offspring's before they peacefully depart.
Shortly after, Griff, the Leopolds' butler and head of security, returns with a police officer who, upon seeing the carnage and the bloodied Kintners, assumes they are responsible for the massacre. Elliot and Ridley are taken into custody for questioning. As they sit handcuffed in the back of the police car, the unicorns reappear, running alongside the vehicle. Elliot braces Ridley for what is to come as the unicorns charge and ram the police cars off the road, leaving the film's ending ambiguous with the sound of a crash and the fate of the characters uncertain.
Throughout the story, the complex relationships between characters unfold: Elliot's desperate attempts to provide for Ridley lead him into morally compromising decisions, while Ridley embodies a youthful innocence and reverence for the mystical. Odell represents the ruthless oligarch exploiting the unicorn's powers for profit, with Belinda maintaining the family's public image and Shepard embodying a manipulative, entitled heir who seeks to control the unicorns for his own gain. The scientists, Dr. Song and Dr. Bhatia, are caught between ambition and ethical boundaries, while Griff serves as a voice of reason, often ignored by his employers.
The narrative weaves together themes of corporate greed, the exploitation of nature, and the clash between innocence and corruption, culminating in a violent and tragic sequence of events that challenge the characters' morality and survival. The unicorns, initially victims, become agents of retribution and restoration, blurring the lines between myth and reality as they intervene to protect their own and restore life where death seemed final. The film closes on a note of unresolved tension, with the fate of Elliot and Ridley left to the audience's interpretation amid the chaos unleashed by human greed and mystical forces.
What is the ending?
At the end of Death of a Unicorn (2025), Elliot and Ridley Kintner face the wrath of the unicorn parents after the accidental killing and exploitation of their foal. Elliot lures the adult unicorns away to allow Ridley to escape, but she is captured. Shepard, Odell Leopold's son, holds Ridley at arrow-point, hoping to use her as bait because unicorns are docile toward a "pure-hearted maiden." Elliot stabs Shepard with the unicorn horn but is also fatally wounded. The mother unicorn kills Shepard and then uses magical powers to revive both Elliot and the foal. The unicorn family leaves peacefully, but the police arrive and arrest Elliot and Ridley. The unicorns then ram the police car, which swerves off the road as Elliot and Ridley brace for impact.
The ending unfolds in a tense, dramatic sequence:
After the hunting party falls into a deadly trap set by the adult unicorns--resulting in several deaths including Odell and Shaw--Elliot returns to the estate with the surviving group. They realize the adult unicorns are the parents of the foal they accidentally struck. The group sends Dr. Bhatia to return the foal, but upon discovering its horn has been removed, the unicorns kill her. Griff, the butler, flees in fear.
The unicorns pursue the survivors into the estate. Shepard and Belinda hide in the wine cellar. Shepard, having experienced visions from snorting the unicorn horn, understands that unicorns are peaceful toward a "pure-hearted maiden." He holds Ridley at arrow-point, intending to use her as bait to capture the unicorns. Meanwhile, one unicorn breaks into the cellar and disembowels Belinda.
Elliot, feeling remorse, steals the foal's horn and lures the adult unicorns outside to give Ridley a chance to escape. However, Ridley is caught by Shepard. Elliot confronts Shepard and stabs him with the horn, but Shepard retaliates by stabbing Elliot with an arrow. The mother unicorn fatally kicks Shepard, killing him instantly.
Ridley mourns over Elliot's dying body and describes the visions she experienced. The adult unicorns then use their magical powers to revive Elliot and their foal, restoring the foal's horn to its head. Elliot experiences visions similar to Ridley's. The unicorns turn white like the foal and leave peacefully with their child. Griff returns with the police, who arrest Elliot and Ridley after seeing the dead bodies.
As Elliot and Ridley are driven away in a police car, the unicorns return and ram the vehicle, causing it to swerve off the road. Elliot braces Ridley for the impending impact, ending the film on a tense, unresolved note.
Fates of main characters at the end:
- Elliot Kintner: Initially fatally wounded but revived by the unicorns' magic; arrested by police; braces for impact in the police car.
- Ridley Kintner: Captured and arrested alongside her father; shares visions with Elliot; braces for impact.
- Shepard Leopold: Killed by the mother unicorn after stabbing Elliot.
- Belinda Leopold: Killed by a unicorn in the wine cellar.
- Dr. Bhatia: Killed by the unicorns when attempting to return the foal.
- Griff (butler): Flees during the chaos; returns with police.
The ending highlights the tragic consequences of human interference with mystical nature, the complex relationship between the characters and the unicorns, and the unresolved tension between human law enforcement and the mythical creatures.
Is there a post-credit scene?
There is no post-credits scene in the movie "Death of a Unicorn" produced in 2025. The film concludes abruptly after the main events, leaving an air of mystery for the audience without any additional scenes after the credits roll.
What role do the unicorns' parents play in the story?
The unicorns' parents are older unicorns who set lethal traps to protect their foal after it is injured. They kill several members of the hunting party and later follow the survivors into the estate. They are docile toward Ridley, the pure-hearted maiden, but become violent when they realize their foal's horn has been removed, killing Dr. Bhatia. In the climax, they magically revive Elliot and their foal before leaving peacefully.
How does the character Shepard interact with the unicorns and what are his intentions?
Shepard steals a vial of the unicorn's grated horn and snorts it, experiencing visions. He orders Dr. Bhatia to saw off the entire horn and later proposes breeding unicorns on a ranch to harvest their blood and horn for profit. He holds Ridley at arrow-point, trying to control the unicorns, but is ultimately stabbed with the horn and fatally kicked by a unicorn.
What is the significance of Ridley being a 'pure-hearted maiden' in the story?
Ridley is identified as a 'pure-hearted maiden,' which causes the unicorns to be docile toward her. This trait is revealed through Shepard's visions after snorting the horn. Ridley's purity allows her to interact peacefully with the unicorns, which is crucial in the story's resolution when the parent unicorns become calm upon her arrival.
What happens to the hunting party during their encounter with the unicorns?
The hunting party falls into lethal traps set by the older unicorns, resulting in several deaths including Odell and Shaw. Later, Dr. Bhatia is killed by the unicorns after they discover their foal's horn has been removed. Belinda is disemboweled by a unicorn when hiding in the wine cellar. The unicorns kill multiple members of the hunting party as retribution for harming their foal.
How does the story depict the aftermath of the unicorns' attack on the police and the main characters?
After the unicorns revive Elliot and their foal, Griff returns with the police who arrest the Kintners. While being driven away, the unicorns ram the police car, causing it to swerve off the road as the occupants brace for impact. The film ends ambiguously, leaving it unclear whether the characters survive, emphasizing the ongoing threat and mystery surrounding the unicorns.
Is this family friendly?
The movie Death of a Unicorn (2025) is not family friendly and is rated R due to strong violent content, gore, language, and some drug use. It contains numerous scenes that could be upsetting or objectionable for children or sensitive viewers, including:
- Graphic violence and gore, such as people being disemboweled, gored, and killed in brutal ways, including slow crushing of a head and stabbing.
- The killing of a unicorn by car accident, bludgeoning, and shooting, with the creature's body used for medical research.
- Dark and intense scenes involving death, cancer discussions, and drug use, including a man snorting powdered drugs.
- Frequent strong language, including over 20 uses of the F-word and other profanities.
- Some mild sexual references and brief nudity, such as remarks about a young woman's hormones and partial bare chests shown.
- Themes of greed, cruelty, and drug addiction treated with dark humor and satire, which may be disturbing or inappropriate for younger audiences.
Overall, the film's tone is a mix of dark fantasy, horror, and satire with graphic and mature content, making it unsuitable for children or those sensitive to violence and strong language.
Does the dog die?
In the 2025 movie Death of a Unicorn, there is no mention or indication that a dog dies. The plot centers on a father, Elliot, and his daughter, Ridley, who accidentally hit and kill a small unicorn with their car, leading to a series of events involving the unicorn's magical properties and the pursuit by larger unicorns. The story focuses on the unicorn and the human characters, with no reference to a dog or its death in the available detailed plot summaries and reviews.
Therefore, based on the information from the movie's plot and reviews, no dog dies in Death of a Unicorn.