“Union County” follows brothers Cody and Jack Parsons, both navigating court-mandated drug rehabilitation programs and working toward a brighter future in rural Ohio.
“Union County” takes a similar approach to “Sing Sing” with its cast. In Greg Kwedar’s film, the majority of the cast was made up of nonprofessional, formerly incarcerated actors. Here, writer-director Adam Meeks includes supporting characters who are played by real individuals from the Ohio recovery community. Two of these actors include Kevin P. Braig (Judge Braig) and Annette Deao (Annette). Both actually serve in Logan County, Ohio; Braig is a judge who presides over the Adult Recovery Court (ARC) program and Deao is a chemical dependency counselor. Deao, specifically, delivers several potent monologues that emphasize what just a sliver of hope can mean for a person who is struggling.
“I’m so sorry if you haven’t felt supported or we did something wrong. You know, but what I am going to tell you is that I’m going to do everything I can for you and for Jack, to help you guys get through this.”
Much like Colman Domingo’s powerful work in “Sing Sing,” there is an equally impactful performance from Will Poulter (Cody) here. He’s quiet. Just from Poulter’s blank stares and cautious delivery, you can feel his pain. At the same time, he adds an innate sense of humanity to make it clear that he’s just like all the rest of us — aspiring to be better. He continues to take on diverse projects, portraying a different persona in each of his last four roles: “Death of a Unicorn,” “Warfare,” “I Love Boosters” and now “Union County.”
Also appearing is Noah Centineo (Jack). He has a very upbeat and charismatic presence, which contrasts with Poulter’s quietness. With both characters battling addiction, their performances express that it can affect everyone, no matter how direct or exuberant their personality is.
Unlike Poulter’s more mainstream appearances, “Union County” isn’t a film that’s going to “wow” general audiences. It’s the definition of understated, from Meeks’ direction to the performances to Celia Hollander’s score. If your life hasn’t been touched by addiction, it’s not a story that’s always easy to emotionally connect with. For those who have struggled or know someone who is, it will likely hit harder.
With scenes filmed in the real courtroom with real participants of the 2025 ARC in Bellefontaine, Ohio, there is a sense of legitimacy that is hard to replicate. This makes “Union County” feel almost like a documentary at times, which in part, it is. The screenplay isn’t attempting to be flashy, and neither are the visuals. Many of the featured locations are rundown or bare-bones, highlighting the hardships that the town itself faces. Director of photography Stefan Weinberger maintains a character-first focus, keeping the camera static for most of the 97-minute runtime. There are instances where he executes slow zoom-outs or wide-angle shots that highlight the community behind it all.
Another movie tackling the opioid epidemic, “Hazard,” released in 2025. Both offer a unique perspective, as Eddie Mensore’s film continuously depicts drug use while “Union County” captures everything outside of “the fix.” Here, the focus is more on the resources available to help people escape from the cycle. Most of the messages within come through dialogue. Characters share stories from their past (giving a sibling drugs, missing time with their kids) to share the stark reality of addiction. At the same time, it doesn’t shy away from darkness while also providing small glimpses of hope which, in turn, visualize the grief that has come from all of the pain.
“I think that there’s just a lot that I cannot understand. And there’s just a lot that I do not know how to forgive.”
“Union County” is an unsanitized look at the opioid epidemic, blending the real world with a fictional narrative. Its scope may be small, but the impact is far and wide.
Rating: 4 out of 5
