Union County — Sundance Review
Source: Sundance
Addiction is a common theme in cinema, but it’s a topic that’s often sensationalized and depicted in ways that veer toward melodrama with big, over-the-top meltdowns. Addiction dramas often lean more toward being overdramatic than truthful for the sake of entertainment value. Adam Meeks’ Union County deviates from this trope—for better and for worse. It’s a portrait of addiction that’s achingly honest, but that doesn’t always make for the most compelling viewing experience.
Will Poulter stars as Cody Parsons, an opiate addict living in rural Ohio who’s assigned to a county-mandated drug court program. The men’s shelter and homeless shelter are full, so he lives out of his car on the outskirts of town. Real-life recovering addicts play the other members of the program. The judge is played by Kevin P. Braig, an actual judge who specializes in recovery cases. Annette Deao, a sober counselor, essentially plays herself in the film. All of these performances by non-actors add to the film’s sense of verisimilitude. It almost feels as though we’re watching a documentary. Will Poulter’s performance is so quiet and raw that he blends right in. So does Noah Centineo, who plays Cody’s foster brother Jack, another participant in the program. Centineo is nearly unrecognizable in the role, delivering one of the film's best performances.
In addition to casting nonactors in many of the supporting roles, the film was shot in a real drug court, adding to the authenticity. Stefan Weinberger’s cinematography isn’t flashy, which fits with the film’s understated aura. It doesn’t make a spectacle or a show of addiction; it seeks to depict it as realistically as possible. Thus, the film's technical aspects are more restrained, allowing the performances to shine. When the program participants address the judge, they’re perfectly centered in the frame, looking directly into the camera. It creates a feeling of intimacy, as though they’re talking to us, the viewer, and we’re really getting to know them and hear their stories.
Union County is one of the most patient, gentle, and authentic portraits of addiction in film history. Will Poulter’s outstanding performance captures the anguish and inner turmoil of the arduous, never-ending journey that is recovery. The film meanders and might feel a bit dull at times, but it accurately captures the mundanity of everyday life while struggling to stay sober. It may not reinvent the wheel when it comes to addiction dramas, but its remarkable authenticity sets it apart. It hits many familiar story beats between relapse and recovery, but that’s to be expected. After all, as anyone who’s ever dealt with addiction knows all too well, progress isn’t linear.
Union County premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2026.
