The Last Stop in Yuma County – Arrow Video

Director: Francis Galluppi
Screenplay: Francis Galluppi
Starring: Jim Cummings, Richard Brake, Faizon Love, Jocelin Donahue, Gene Jones and Barbara Crampton
Country: United States
Running Time: 90 min
Year: 2024

Anybody who knows me should know how much of a sucker I am for single location thrillers. Dog Day Afternoon, Phone Booth, Rope, Misery, there’s so many excellent examples out there, taking a simple premise, interesting characters and a killer hook and going wild with it. When I caught wind of director Francis Galluppi’s debut The Last Stop in Yuma County, I was sold on the premise and cast, but waited until Arrow’s upcoming Blu-ray was announced before I checked it out. 

The Last Stop in Yuma County is a thriller centered around a diner-motel located on the outskirts of Yuma County, Arizona. An unnamed knife salesman, a waitress, the motel attendant, two bank robbers, an elderly couple and two young criminals all end up intertwined in what can only be described as a mashup of Dog Day Afternoon, Fargo and Reservoir Dogs with a fun, flashy twist. 

For a first feature, Galluppi is incredibly confident behind the camera, letting sequences take their time and delivering some incredible tension over the brisk 90 minute runtime. The cast is stacked with character actors such as Jim Cummings, Richard Brake, Faizon Love, Barbara Crampton, Jocelin Donahue and Gene Jones just to name a few. Each character feels well developed, has their own little quirks that separate them from each other and it’s a pleasure to watch them try and figure a way out of the intense situation they’re in. 

As previously mentioned, the film’s 90 minute runtime is perfect for a bottle thriller, always taking advantage of the location in fun and interesting ways while keeping you on the edge of your toes throughout. Cummings’ performance as the knife salesman was delightful, offering a different side to him that I haven’t seen before in film, and Richard Brake’s unsettling performance as Beau had me hooked for every frame that he’s on screen. It’s no secret that Brake is one of the best character actors working right now, but he delivers one of my favourite performances in recent memory here, it’s great stuff!

If you’re a fan of small-scale thrillers with a tone similar to that of a Coen Brothers film, The Last Stop in Yuma County should rank high on your watchlist. It’s clear that the influence of filmmakers like the Coens, Tarantino and Lumet is present throughout Galluppi’s debut, but he’s able to still shine through as a unique filmmaker that we should keep our eyes out. His next feature is an Evil Dead spin-off, which I’m more than ready for given how great he deals with suspense in Yuma County. 

Yuma County is one of the more unsung thrillers of 2024 and seemed to fly under the radar for a great number of people. I had an absolute blast with it and even ended up rewatching the film a second time for this review, and with this Arrow Video release on the horizon, I hope the film and Galluppi achieve the success and acclaim that they rightly deserve. Check this one out! 

Film:  

The Last Stop in Yuma County releases on Limited Edition Blu-ray via Arrow Video on February 17th. The transfer looks great, as expected from an Arrow disc. The image quality is quite superb throughout and the DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio track compliments the film as well. There’s a handful of needle drops that sound great and although it’s a dialogue-heavy film, the sound design is top notch too. A/V quality is great across the board. The following extras are included: 

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio

Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

Audio commentary with director Francis Galluppi and executive producer James Claeys

Audio commentary with Francis Galluppi and actors Jim Cummings and Jocelin Donahue

Audio commentary with Francis Galluppi and cinematographer Mac Fisken

Trust the Audience, a new interview with Francis Galluppi

Leave the Gun, Take the Rhubarb, a new video essay by film critic Matt Donato

Sell Your House, a making-of featurette

Three screenplay-to-film comparisons

Trailer

Image galleries

Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring artwork by Adam Perocchi and new writing by film critics Kat Hughes and Meagan Navarro

Reversible sleeve featuring artwork by Eric Adrian Lee and Nicholas Moegly

Six vintage-style lobby cards featuring newly-commissioned artwork by Eric Adrian Lee

Three audio commentaries are included, all featuring writer-director Galluppi alongside people associated with the production. The first track features Galluppi with executive producer James Claeys and it’s a fun listen. James describes how he sold his house to finance the film and the pair have an entertaining dynamic throughout the track. In the track’s first moments, they share a hilarious anecdote about somebody who was around the set causing a nuisance which had me cracking up. There’s another great story about how Galluppi spent years of his life acquiring the perfect Marty McFly costume and on the day where he acquired the final piece, somebody stole his backpack with the clothes in. It’s an incredibly entertaining track that’s worth a listen. The second track features Galluppi alongside actors Jim Cummings and Jocelin Donahue and continues the light-hearted, fun atmosphere of the first track but also dives into the shoot in an informative, interesting way. Whenever Cummings records a commentary track, you know you’re in for a good one and this is no exception. To round things out, there’s a track with Galluppi and cinematographer Mac Fisken which is the most technical track of the bunch, with the pair diving into how they achieved specific shots in the film and more throughout the 90 minute track. All in all, each track is worth checking out as they’re all packed with tons of information about the production.

Trust the Audience is a brand new, exclusive 30 minute interview with writer-director Francis Galluppi and it’s a great watch. Galluppi discusses some of the influences on the film, such as Hitchcock’s suspense thrillers Dial M for Murder and Rope, his love of physical media and how bonus features were his film school, the process of editing the film himself, casting the film and more. Galluppi is energetic and enthusiastic throughout the entire interview and is open to the highs and lows of the production, including how the film was almost picked up by a larger studio but wanted big names attached, which Galluppi didn’t want. An eye-opening watch that’s absolutely worth your time.

Leave the Gun, Take the Rhubarb is a brand new and exclusive video essay by film critic Matt Donato, diving into the themes of the film, as well as how it utilises the location of a small diner while keying audiences into a big reveal in its opening minutes. Galluppi’s focus on the smaller moments, highlighting how less is more in Yuma County and more is all brought up by Donato in this well-made essay.

Sell Your House is an 8 minute making-of featurette about the production of Last Stop in Yuma County, featuring talking heads interviews with the cast and crew, as well as some behind-the-scenes/on-set footage. It’s light-hearted, well-edited and has a fun energy to it. Worth a watch!

Three screenplay-to-film comparisons are included, all of which are fascinating to watch.

A theatrical trailer and a series of image galleries are also included.

I wasn’t provided with the retail release, so I’m unable to comment on the booklet, lobby cards or slipcover.

Arrow Video’s release for The Last Stop in Yuma County is a solid one, featuring a compelling array of bonus features, a great A/V presentation and the film’s a great time too. If you’re a fan of small scale thrillers with a touch of dark comedy, give this one a shot. 

Disc/Packaging:  

Where to watch The Last Stop in Yuma County