Direction: Francis Galluppi
Country: USA
An exciting feature debut by Francis Galluppi, The Last Stop in Yuma County is a revivalist neo-noir thriller reminiscent of the works of Alfred Hitchcock and The Coen Brothers. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Jim Cummings (Thunder Road, 2018; The Beta Test, 2021), who channels Norman Bates from Psycho as a knife salesman stranded at a remote Arizona diner next to a gas station, waiting for a fuel track to arrive. What should be a quick rest stop, becomes a nightmare when two dangerous bank robbers - portrayed by Richard Brake and Nicholas Logan - exactly in the same predicament, terrorize everyone around them.
Galluppi crafts the film in a classic style, creating a sense of isolated, alienated Americana. His confident direction weaves the elements into a crescendo, enhanced by a viciously torrid and claustrophobic atmosphere. However, the film ends on a somewhat contrived note. Utterly engaging until that point, this suspenseful tale of greed still guarantees a satisfying pay-off, offering a slick slice of solid entertainment in a constant state of tension.
The Last Stop in Yuma County reminds us how gripping neo-noir thrillers can be when properly crafted, and Gallupi proves to be a bold young director to watch.
