On the Count of Three is a 2021 black comedy-drama film, directed by Jerrod Carmichael, from a screenplay by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29th, 2021. Annapurna Pictures and MGM's Orion Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, which will be released through their joint venture, United Artists Releasing.

Val and Kevin, two chronically depressed best friends, make a pact to end each other’s life when the day is done. But as the two spend the day wrapping up their affairs, the volatile Kevin’s need to confront his trauma sends their orderly plan spiraling out of control.

The cast includes Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J. B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, and Henry Winkler.

On the Count of Three made its debut on May 13th, 2022, in select theaters and VOD.

THE GOOD

As soon as the trailer dropped for On the Count of Three I was intrigued. It had the indie feel that always gets my attention, but it also felt like something different which I always welcome as well. It didn’t hurt that they did such a great job with the trailer which I did end up watching multiple times. I had seen Carmichael over the years in small roles, but the initial sell for me was my guy Christopher Abbott, who has come a long way since his role as the pushover boyfriend on the HBO series Girls. I wasn’t able to catch it during its initial limited release, but once it was available to stream on Hulu I was all over it. So, is On the Count of Three worth a watch? Keep reading to find out!

I genuinely enjoyed On the Count of Three, and I thought it was very well done from top to bottom. I’m not surprised in the least that it made such an impact as the Sundance Film Festival. It is one of those movies that when it ends, you find yourself sort of aimlessly staring at the end credits as you try and process what you just experienced. The screenplay is amazing, but for me, the performances undoubtedly steal the show. Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott have a certain chemistry rarely seen on-screen, especially when it is crucial that the actors come across as genuine otherwise the story falls apart. I thought both delivered masterful performances, but I would give a slight nod to Abbott’s performance considering his character had a bit more depth and you bought into his lifetime of struggle and heartache. It was incredible how fast he could go from calmly chatting with someone to a man who has been pushed to his limit one too many times.

Carmichael plays a complex character who is slightly more in touch with reality compared to his friend, allowing him the opportunity to be the voice of reason when necessary. I enjoyed having the opportunity to learn more about why he felt so hopeless, and I thought Carmichael was able to give the character a very real and relatable on-screen presence. Henry Winkler is fantastic as always in a supporting role, and we even get a brief but great supporting role from Tiffany Haddish. Oh, and J.B. Smoove was a welcomed addition in a rare dramatic role. I’m not sure if On the Count of Three received enough time in theaters to be considered come awards time, but Carmichael and Abbott absolutely deserve recognition for their performances here.

I touched on it briefly, but the screenplay for On the Count of Three courtesy of Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch, was great. Now first and foremost, it can be quite a challenge dealing with such a difficult subject matter. The margin for error is minimal, because once you make the decision to go this route, you can’t afford to screw it up because not only will you end up with a poorly received movie, you will anger and potentially trigger those especially sensitive to the subject matter. I thought they toed the line extremely well, and even though they didn’t shy away from the dark reality of depression and suicide, we were allowed the opportunity to see both sides of the coin. I felt like the story was fairly straight forward yet still complex, adding thought provoking elements for viewers to ponder well after finishing the film. The screenplay is centered on the two main characters and their character development, and I thought it all came together really well and added crucial substance to the story. By the end of the film, I felt personally invested in both characters and I was genuinely on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the story ends.

I have to talk about the technical elements of the film and give a huge shoutout to Jerrod Carmichael in what I feel was a very impressive directorial debut. From the creative camera angles to a raw and immersive shooting style, the guy is definitely talented. I was hoping On the Count of Three stayed true to that indie feel I love so much and it did not disappoint. Even though the driving force for the film is the acting and the dialogue, I loved the soundtrack and the score which I felt helped to add another layer to the film. I mean, Papa Roach’s ‘Last Resort’ really takes me back to my pre-high school days. Even the cinematography helped to drive the immersive element of the film making viewers feel like they are living this last day right along with the characters.

THE BAD

The bottom line, On the Count of Three, is not for everyone, but I am also hard pressed to criticize with the positives far outweighing the negatives. In many ways, this film is very difficult to watch, especially for people who have been personally impacted by depression or suicide. I am a firm believer that the best way to spread awareness is to dive into and shine a light on an issue, but that doesn’t make the experience any easier. Throughout the film the cast talks in depth about why suicide is the answer, and often carries a feeling of hopelessness. More than anything else, I want to make sure the film has a strong disclaimer for people who struggle with or have been impacted by depression and suicide. If you are looking for an easy watch with some funny moments, you may want to sit this one out. Considered a dark comedy-drama, On the Count of Three is probably 85% drama and does not pull any punches. You could argue that the overall tone of the film felt off at times throughout the film, but it was minimal in my opinion, and never took away from the overall experience.

THE VERDICT

A raw, hard-hitting, and painfully authentic look at an extremely difficult subject matter, On the Count of Three takes viewers on a unique and engaging journey while serving as an impressive debut for director and star Jerrod Carmichael. I had high expectations for this movie and it did not disappoint. The performances from Carmichael and Christopher Abbott are just so good, and even though Abbott has been in his fair share of films and television roles, I will be hard pressed to see him as anything other than this character, at least for a while. That’s just a testament to how invested he was in this role. As I mentioned the film is not easy to watch, but the authentic and real-world feel is part of the allure in my opinion.

Bottom line, On the Count of Three will stick with you, no question about it. And as far as dark comedies go, this is top-tier. I was engaged from start to finish, and I really liked how they ended the film although it did leave me with a few questions. Hopefully, I can convince Andrew to check this out sooner than later so we can break it down a bit. If you fancy yourself a well-done indie that will leave an impression on you, On the Count of Three is absolutely worth your time. I can’t wait to see what Carmichael does next.