Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY [Fantastic Fest 2023 - Austin, Texas]
The great thing when a director makes his debut is that there is a sense of style as well as what was before. There was a sense of dread and flow from the very beginning of "The Last Stop In Yuma County". While not heavily budgeted, it has the feel of a bigger budget film simply because of its confidence in moves, not overdoing it, music selection, etc. The casting is also quite good. There are some hiccups in the performances but very few. This is a great collection of actors working with a director that is very sure of what he is doing. From the opening credits using a song one would not expect that works beautifully to a montage to a known but undeniable classic that just rachets the film into overdrive a little more than halfway through, "Yuma" really gets it while still understanding what it is. Francis Galuppi will be an interesting voice to watch.
Jim Cummings, a versatile director in his own right, seems to have helped this director along too it seems both as an actor and a producer since he needs to anchor the film but also almost slip into the background to let other character actors shine, many of whom have known faces but not necessarily have been in films that have taken advantage of their talents. Jocelin Donahue is a standout as Charlotte because she has to show fear without showing fear. Richard Brake settles into a role he is known for in many ways, but the pinpoint precision in shots and conducting really focuses what he is able to do. Giving away the full gist of what the story is is not necessary yet should be considered very satisfying. It is a very crisp clear literary progression, only complicated in that it begins to add the different ingredients that eventually push it where it needs to go. It is classic in its irony but also simply and beautifully made, knowing its location and not overdoing it. Efficiency of story and also an excellent score in addition to just the right cast of characters makes "The Last Stop In Yuma County" a stand out. A
By Tim Wassberg
