THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY is Stylishly Familiar

THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY (Blu-ray)

2023 / 91 min

FROM WELL GO USA

Review by Mr. Bonnie, the Bank Robber😺

We’ve seen this scenario before…a old diner in the middle of nowhere, an eclectic batch of patrons who are stranded, and of course, a couple of vicious criminals who are a threat to them all. Everyone has converged at the diner because they need gas, but the station next door is empty, so they have no choice but to wait for the overdue gas truck. This includes Travis (Nicholas Logan) & Beau (Richard Brake), who’ve just robbed a bank.

Since the robbery is all over the news, a timid knife salesman (Jim Cummings) recognizes their getaway car and urges waitress Charlotte (Jocelin Donahue) to call the police. However, Beau stops her and cuts the phone line, then threatens to kill them both if they don’t do exactly as he says, which is basically act as though nothing’s wrong while others begin to enter the diner, also low on gas.

"Where the hell is my omelet??"

Again, it’s a familiar premise. But it’s what writer-director Francis Galluppi does with it that makes The Last Stop in Yuma County interesting. Considering it’s essentially a one-setting film, he’s juggling a sizable cast of uniquely different characters, almost none of whom follow a predictable arc. Galluppi also wears his influences proudly. Stylishly shot, with noir touches and plenty of black humor, the film sometimes plays like Tarantino filtered through the Coen Brothers. At the same time, it never feels like a rip-off and the final act is filled with surprises.

Set in the ‘70s, there’s good attention to period detail, especially the use of vehicles that no longer exist (when was the last time you saw a Ford Pinto?) and incorporating of a few classic pop songs at opportune moments. Elsewhere, the performances range from coolly menacing (Brake) to distractingly oafish (Deputy Gavin, played by Connor Paolo). Well made on a fairly low budget, The Last Stop in Yuma County may be the sum of its influences, but Francis Galluppi has enough narrative tricks up his sleeve to make it worth checking out.

EXTRA KIBBLES

MAKING-OF FEATURETTE - Fairly short, by pretty amusing.

AUDIO COMMENTARY - By writer-director Francis Galluppi, cinematographer Mac Fisken, exec. producer James Claeys, actors Jim Cummings & Jocelin Donahue.

TRAILER