From the time we’re young, we’re told of certain mythical creatures. Often, these stories are fun and full of whimsy. But what if they came to life in a darker way.

The new horror comedy Death of Unicorn offers a traditional and wonderful mythical creature with a dark twist. But does it lead to something interesting and exciting? The potential is there, but it doesn’t coalesce into something great.

The film focuses on Elliot (Paul Rudd) and his daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega). They are headed to Elliot’s work meeting at the compound of a wealthy family that employs him in their drug empire. They want to see Elliot is a family man, but that’s a bit tricky. Since his wife died, his relationship with Ridley has been strained.

Along the way, they travel through a nature preserve. When a creature darts out in front of the car, they can’t avoid the collision. It turns out to be a unicorn, and it isn’t dead. When she touches it, Ridley connects to something. In a panic, Elliot tries to finish it off. They pile it into the car and head on.

At the house, Elliot connects with his boss, Odell (Richard E. Grant), who is dying. Odell, his wife Belinda (Tea Leoni) and son Shephard (Will Poulter) are an odd lot, focused on business. When they learn what Elliot hit, and that it might have magical healing properties, the weekend turns into something else.

But Ridley has misgivings that grow as she researches the myths surrounding unicorns that might turn out to be something more. Can she convince her dad before it’s too late?

We’ve seen these kind of turn on the rich stories before. They’re often stories where greed leads everyone down a darker path. That’s the case here in a film with a bit of a twist. The Unicorn is a fun mythical creature that here takes on the form of something darker, which adds to the potential comedy.

I like the cast here and the setup is sound. In addition to the primary cast, I enjoy Anthony Carrigan as the butler Griff, too. There are some fun moments, but some of the connections feel a little thin. What works best is the set up and the look. I like the dark unicorns and the effects in the story.

What doesn’t quite come together are the story and the characters. There are some interesting moments and lines, but a lot of it relies on the connection between Ridley and Elliot. It doesn’t work well enough to make the Third Act hit like it should. The film is fine and a pleasant enough watch but doesn’t capitalize on its potential.

Death of a Unicorn is now playing nationwide.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.