On the Count of Three

In this boldly bleak tragicomedy from rising star Jerrod Carmichael, two best friends decide today will be the day to end their lives.

Val is sick of life. He hates his job, and freaks out when he learns his girlfriend is pregnant. The one person who gets him is his traumatised best friend Kevin, who’s currently in hospital after a suicide attempt; now, Val breaks Kevin out and convinces him they should both go out with a bang. But only after a day that’s part reminiscence and part reckoning: Val wants to confront his abusive dad, while Kevin seeks revenge on the child psychiatrist who abused him. Of all days, though, why must everything go pear-shaped today?

On the Count of Three is a carefully calibrated feature debut, delicately tackling its dark themes and ensuring its humour offers dimension over derision. Following the film’s premiere at Sundance, Carmichael’s star has continued to soar – he’s just released a captivating stand-up special, Rothaniel, and hosted a knockout Saturday Night Live. In the role of Val, he has a wonderful, tender chemistry with Christopher Abbott (Black Bear, MIFF 2020) as well as support from comedy luminaries Tiffany Haddish, JB Smoove and Henry Winkler. Pitched somewhere between Bottle Rocket and Bobcat Goldthwait (God Bless America, MIFF 2012), this most nihilistic of buddy comedies is unexpectedly life-affirming.

“The film is so skillful at navigating the difficult topic at its center, you will almost miss the clever and necessary things it has to say about gun control, race, or even homosexuality.” –  Observer (New York)

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