Disclaimer: I’m a blind film critic, and there’s no known audio description for Unicorns.

I often find films like this hard to review, because there’s this whole different side that you don’t really get until the final act, and that is when the film truly soars.As yet another LGBTQ film with no audio description this year, I expected Unicorns to get lost among the Plain clothes and Layla, as films I’d probably enjoy more if I could understand them better. But a lot of the themes that run through Unicorns really popped out anyway, and what started as a seemingly predictable entry into queer cinema ended up anything but.

The film stars Ben hardy as Luke, Jason Patel as Asha. the movie starts with a bit of club hopping, doing some cruising, until Luke and Asha eventually run into each other. Luke doesn’t know what to make of Asha, as a female presenting, self assured queen that has found the right mix for his life, despite getting death threats for existing. Hardy is a seemingly straight individual, raising his young son, and trying to figure out how to navigate everything as his ex-wife pops into the picture. But something continues to draw these two together, even though they are culturally apart. It becomes truly a lovely romance between the two, until an inciting incident that throws this romance right off a cliff.

Jason Patel is excellent, a bright new talent who hopefully will find lots of work in the future. I’ve seen Hardy before, and will always remember him as Angel in X-Men Apocalypse, as I’m a fan of the series.

I’m approaching this with trepidation, but the best thing I can say to define the third act, is that Asha, who is clearly comfortable in his sexuality, is the victim of a hate crime. He is also not white, and it is suggested that his race is an element, if not even the primary reason he was targeted. But having a white boyfriend following a hate crime attack puts a giant damper on their relationship, not because of Luke, who is amazing, but because of Asha’s own feelings around their rehabilitation, and life choices in general. It seems that Asha wants to rid himself of everything that got him into trouble, and hide, but Luke’s persistence is heartbreakingly romantic.Will these two find their way back together?

Patel is a bold, bright, vivid performer, and breathes this life into Asha, reminding you how he shines so that the contrast in the third act is felt even more. He is so happy, and then he has lost that part of himself. The safety, or the perception of it, is lost. even for someone who dealt with death threats, he seems rather unfazed until the third act rocks the emotional core.

Considering I’ve seen Hardy mostly in action films like X-Men Apocalypse, Only the Brave, and Six Underground, this is quite a new turn for him, and I very much approve. I take note of both performers. this is such a small film that if it managed to get a Dorian nomination this year, I’d be pleased. I certainly found at least one spot on my ballot for it.

This is a case where because there were scenes I was lost in, due to lack of audio description, the film has a cap. In that, I think I’m still being generous here, but Unicorns truly surprised me with how emotionally invested I found myself. The beginning screams average, but the journey was anything but.

As the title suggests, Unicorns is a rare gem of a film with a deep emotional journey and some unexpected twists. Patel and Hardy are just exceptional in one of the most underrated films of the year.

Fresh: Final grade: 7.9/10