Jenna Ortega Meets A24 in New Horror-Comedy, Death of a Unicorn

A24’s upcoming dark comedy Death of a Unicorn is already shaping up to be a cult favorite, and with Jenna Ortega leading the charge, we’re in for something weird, eerie, and undeniably cool. Here’s what to expect from her in this twisted ride.

Photo: A24

By now, it’s clear that Jenna Ortega thrives in roles with a bite—whether it’s the deadpan wit of Wednesday, the final-girl energy of Scream, or her chilling performance in X. Death of a Unicorn is right in her lane: a dark, satirical horror-comedy that doesn’t just ask for good acting but demands a presence. And if there’s one thing she brings, it’s presence.

The film, directed by Alex Scharfman and backed by A24 (a studio that basically has a PhD in unsettling cinema), follows a father-daughter duo (played by Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd) who accidentally hit and kill a unicorn—yes, an actual unicorn. What follows is a surreal, corporate-fueled nightmare that explores greed, exploitation, and the absurdity of power.

Our New Scream Queen

Jenna Ortega has built her career on balancing intensity with a kind of detached coolness, and Death of a Unicorn will likely play to both strengths. Unlike her previous horror roles, which leaned into survival and fear, this film gives her room to play with satire—a space where horror and humor crash into each other in the most uncomfortable way possible.

Think The Menu or Sorry to Bother You, but with an Ortega twist. The script reportedly leans into the absurd, and her ability to play off that with her signature deadpan delivery (while still making her characters feel layered and human) will make for a fascinating watch. Expect her to deliver punchlines that hit harder because they’re laced with existential dread—A24’s specialty.

Additionally, pairing Jenna Ortega with Paul Rudd is a genius move. Rudd, the ageless king of comedic timing, has a way of making even the most ridiculous scenarios feel grounded. Ortega, on the other hand, brings a sharper, more modern energy to the screen. Together, they create a father-daughter duo that’s as dysfunctional as it is hilarious.

Given Ortega’s knack for playing characters with a rebellious edge, it’s safe to assume her role won’t be a passive one. She’s not just along for the ride—she’ll be pushing back, calling out the insanity, and possibly driving the film’s emotional core. Rudd’s character might be the accidental cause of the chaos, but Ortega’s will likely be the one truly questioning the madness around them.

It Just Makes Sense that A24 Is Behind This

A24 doesn’t make conventional movies. Whether it’s the unhinged energy of Everything Everywhere All at Once, the disturbing realism of Hereditary, or the neon-lit chaos of Uncut Gems, their films always carry an edge. And Death of a Unicorn sounds like it’s about to join that lineup in a major way.

Ortega being at the center of this madness means she’s stepping into a new league of indie horror-comedy weirdness. It’s one thing to star in a slasher franchise—it’s another to take on a project that’s both absurd and unsettling in ways audiences don’t see coming. If there’s anyone who can make the strange feel effortlessly cool, it’s her.

If it wasn’t obvious already, Jenna Ortega is becoming one of the defining faces of modern horror. But Death of a Unicorn isn’t just another horror film—it’s a statement. It’s her stepping deeper into the A24 universe, proving she can handle not just scares, but smart, socially relevant storytelling wrapped in satire.

This film is a chance for Jenna Ortega to show off even more range. We already know she can scream, fight, and deliver perfectly timed sarcasm—but here, she gets to work within a narrative that’s both absurd and deeply metaphorical. The unicorn may be dead, but Ortega’s rise? Just getting started.