The Grisly Cartoon Movie Conclusion That Haunts Viewers
Out of all the mature animated films I’ve ever watched, nothing has remained with me quite like the fear-filled finale of the explicitly bloody as well as overwhelingly transgressive 2022 movie The Unicorn Wars.
In the year 2015, the Spanish writer-director crafted a dark, somber and often savage world with a few small , desolate twinges of optimism.
Although Unicorn Wars seems like it originated from a drive to push the medium even more, the filmmaker explained that it was rather an effort to express a widespread, cross-cultural message regarding “the common origin of every conflict.”
That message is communicated via a squad of colorful pastel bears , clearly inspired by a popular line of cuddly figures.
Maturing in a culture focused on warmongering as well as the defense industry, a lot of these animals are obsessed with slaughtering the mythical beasts, because of a religious scripture which states them they used to be kings of the woods, until these creatures expelled them.
Others have not completely bought into the propaganda, and would rather try out narcotics or mate in the forest.
In contrast to their friendly counterparts, these bright beings display genitals , clear sex drives.
For a certain especially vicious, cynical bear, Bluey, the conflict with the unicorns becomes a path toward dominance — and especially to dominance over his softer, nicer brother Tubby.
The character is a bully , a seeming psychopath , and when terror overcomes his squad and kills his teammates one by one, he takes increasingly power personally, through ever more gory, destructive ways.
Simultaneously, the horned creatures are experiencing their own nightmare, as a spreading, destructive monster in their woods.
“In the early stages, it appears as a comedy,” the director commented. “But then it evolves into a more dramatic and sad movie. And ultimately, it becomes a terrifying movie.”
The Unicorn Wars begins resembling one of the more quirky films from a renowned animator, which find a wicked pleasure in letting animated figures swear, shoot each other, or have intimate relations.
Then it evolves into more akin to a bleaker work by that same creator, featuring progressively visual gore , a palpable link to the real tragedy of battle.
In the finale, it is a full-on extreme drama carnage.
The terror which makes the film an ideal spooky-season watch starts much sooner than indicated.
Unicorn Wars is suited for the most dedicated lovers of violence, for enthusiasts of extreme cinema who want to watch a movie they’ve never watched previously, and can endure a plot that offers unflinching brutality.
See it in a dark room free from interruptions, and the finale will crawl into your mind and stay with you.
How to view: Offered for rental or purchase on various online services.