The Last Stop In Yuma County movie is an absorbing thriller set in Arizona, the border state of the USA. So, the greed and the selfishness of the few dominate this tension-filled tale.
It is a good debut film from director and screenwriter Francis Galluppi, which delves into the world of crime. However, it is rather amusing to note that the shooting of this movie was done in the neighbouring state of California and not in Arizona. To be specific, it was filmed at Four Aces Movie Ranch in Palmdale, Los Angeles, California, USA.
“The Last Stop In Yuma County” Is A Gripping Thriller Film, Inspired By The 1970s Crime Thrillers
Trailer: The Last Stop In Yuma County (2024) Movie
Five loaded guns.
Four empty tanks.
One bag of money.
The fuel truck is running late.
Spoiler Free Review: The Last Stop In Yuma County (2024) Movie
The (official) synopsis of the film
While stranded at a rural Arizona rest stop, a travelling knife salesman (Jim Cummings) is thrust into a dire hostage situation by the arrival of two bank robbers, Travis (Nicholas Logan) and Beau (Richard Brake), with no qualms about using cruelty or cold, hard steel to protect their bloodstained, ill-begotten fortune. Some people will go to any length to fulfil their greed for money.
What did we like in the film?
Thus, in this film, a bizarre set of circumstances has brought a group of strangers under one roof. Almost all of them are holding or carrying some lethal weapons with them. This is a pressure-cooker kind of situation. The claustrophobic tension in the Diner was palpable. Practically each one of them could feel the threats to their lives.
Film-maker Francis Galluppi has revealed the creative influences that shaped his latest movie. His artistic inspirations encompass a wide range of cinematic styles and eras, contributing to the distinctiveness of his work. Describing it as a unique blend of crime thriller and western genres, he expressed his admiration for film noir, 1970s classics by Sam Peckinpah and Don Siegel, as well as western films.
The background music and the isolated locations also played a perfect part in building up the anxiety and hostility among its strange characters. Therefore, coming from the screenwriter, we liked the tension-filled script of this crime thriller. Some of the humour is dark, yet funny. Also, the movie’s direction is taut and smart.
We also liked the captivating acting performances
One of the positive aspects of this movie is that it does not have any famous actors/actresses playing the roles of common people. Therefore, the story seems much human and believable. ‘To Err is Human’ dictum drives forward this crime film to its logical and satisfactory conclusion. Driven by greed and self-interests, the ‘What-if’ scenarios have been built up quite nicely here. No doubt, it boasts some expected and unexpected twists.
The ensemble cast consists of Jim Cummings (The Knife Salesman), Jocelin Donahue (Charlotte), Richard Brake (Beau), Nicholas Logan (Travis), Faizon Love (Vernon), Michael Abbott Jr (Charlie), Gene Jones (Robert), Barbara Crampton (Virginia), Robin Bartlett (Earline), Connor Paolo (Gavin), Sierra McCormick (Sybil), Jon Proudstar (Pete), etc.
The entire ensemble cast has convincingly enacted their respective characters. They made it an entertaining crime movie to watch. They were actively assisted by the overall visual appeal and tense atmosphere inside a diner located in a remote location.
In the Coen Brothers' film "No Country for Old Men", the actor Gene Jones credited as the Gas Station Proprietor, he shares a scene with Javier Bardem's Anton Chigurh during the memorable coin flip sequence. In that film, he takes on the role of Robert, entering the diner at the 27th-minute mark. Meanwhile, in this 2024 film "The Last Stop In Yuma County" the actor Gene Jones plays the character of Robert, an elderly man.
The conclusion
It is a smart and tautly constructed crime thriller. It deserves all the praise coming its way.
The debut writer-director Francis Galluppi has made a wonderful neo-noir movie that takes the viewers on a tension-filled ride. Kudos, to the entire team.
Rating:
| FM Rating | 3.75/5 |
Poster:
Key Details:
| Genre | Crime, Thriller |
| Original language | English (USA) |
| Duration | 1 hour 31 minutes |
| Writer | Francis Galluppi |
| Director | Francis Galluppi |
| Taglines | Never bring a knife salesman to a gunfight. |
| Cast | Jocelin Donahue (Charlotte), Jim Cummings (The Knife Salesman), Richard Brake (Beau), Nicholas Logan (Travis), Faizon Love (Vernon), Michael Abbott Jr (Charlie), Gene Jones (Robert), Barbara Crampton (Virginia), Robin Bartlett (Earline), Connor Paolo (Gavin), Sierra McCormick (Sybil), Jon Proudstar (Pete), Sam Huntington (David), Ryan Masson (Miles), etc. |
| Distributor | Well Go USA Entertainment |
Awards won by 2024 crime thriller film
| Name of the Awards | Winners of the Awards |
|---|---|
| Sitges – Catalonian International Film Festival | Francis Galluppi – 2023 Winner Órbita – Best Feature Length Film |
| Calgary Underground Film Festival | Francis Galluppi – 2024 Winner Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature |
Poster and Featured Image of The Last Stop In Yuma County (2024) Movie are credited to IMDb.