Laughter doesn’t normally come from clinical depression and suicide. On the Count of Three is a poignantly hilarious black comedy that takes up one of darkest subjects. At some point, the friends decide to kill each other after living for quite a long time together. This thus seemingly simple job of tidying things up turns out to be an unexpected journey into self-discovery. The two friends confront their deep-seated problems that had been moulding them. On the Count of Three breaks boundaries as it is a daring film by all means possible and Carmichael as Jerrod’s directorial debut shines on so many levels.
The opening scene in On the Count of Three is shocking. Both Val (Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott) stand with guns against each other’s heads. And then they start counting down; 3…2…1! The film then jumps back to earlier on that morning. Kevin has spent some time in a mental hospital following his failed suicide attempt. He tries to convince his therapist to let him go home early but she does not believe him, after which he becomes violently angry.
Val works at a mulch manufacturing construction company where he smokes cigarettes thinking about his girlfriend, Natasha (Tiffany Haddish). It‘s himself he hates, its his job and boorish coworkers who make him feel sickened by life itself since couponers do not drop dead any more than car keys get lost mysteriously or phones die inconveniently at just about every gas pump along route 9 between here and Poughkeepsie too often so we’re left with nothing better than this lump of air inside us trying desperately but hopelessly to change into something else even though you know deep down inside there is absolutely no way anything good will ever come outta it which makes everything seem pointless don’t you think? Val gets promoted by his boss one day but remains stunned because he did not see it coming. Val is about to become the head of mulch soon. His life has been sorrowful enough, so he comes to Kevin’s aid, breaks him out of the hospital ingeniously. Val carries two guns. Val’s plan catches Kevin off-guard but he too is ready to die now. Whereas Kevin still has one thing left to do before putting a bullet through his skull…val and kevin decide that they must go pay a visit to the psychiatrist (Henry Winkler) who ruined kevin’s boyhood.
Suicide isn’t played for laughs in On the Count of Three; far from it actually. Both Val and Kevin have been victims of bullying since their childhoods; at least they had each other. Being diagnosed with depression since he was little, depression doesn’t let go easily for poor Kevin. Suicide isn’t just an impulsive decision; val reminds him before taking any steps towards suicide. It feels like I’ve always been “broken” says Kevin because that’s how long I can remember being this way inside me so there is no problem if I give up now right? For instance, val doesn’t want to be in pain anymore so why prolong it? Tomorrow does not interest val either anymore.
However, the quest for revenge becomes rather funny instead of serious as they expected because the duo involved are really dumb themselves. The more they try to sort things out, the cloudier things seem between them too due mainly in part by this large secret hidden behind Val’s back which reveals itself drastically changing everything forever between both men where even pact may be terminated eventually when one realizes ending everything doesn’t stop others’ responsibilities after all while those left behind clean up his mess as far as kev is concerned life will be better without them.
On The Count Of Three faces mental suffering head-on with brutal honesty.Val and kevin are just your average people lost in despair.No ray of light can be seen through the dark depression cloud. The film demonstrates that there are no easy solutions to this. There is no one-size-fits-all cure for it. Being willing to find a solution is the first step towards overcoming any form of sadness.Ask for help.Shared pain. Suicide has no coming back.No person should go through depression alone.
The way Carmichael deals with suicide here is just a miracle. He has a knack for using comedy in discussing suicide. Carmichael remains brilliant as a stand-up performing artist both behind and in front of the camera lens. On The Count of Three reaffirms that laughter can be used as a curative panacea.
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