Program Note
Having found out the refill truck won’t arrive for hours at a remote gas station in Arizona, the occupants, consisting of a traveling knife seller, a waitress, the sheriff, a rancher, an elderly couple, a young vagabond couple, and a group of bank robbers, all settle in at a diner next door with broken air conditioning. Tension builds in the heatwave as a hostage situation takes place and explodes with unpredictable outcomes. The Last Stop in Yuma County is a feature directorial debut by Francis Galluppi, who creates an absurd yet truly suspenseful tale that captivates the audience from the beginning to the end. The director brilliantly adds a touch of black comedy, too, with his subtle characterization aided by an excellent ensemble cast. Never slow or dull, this film is a creative triumph and one of the best indie thrillers in years, cementing Mr. Galluppi as a director to be reckoned with. (Jongsuk Thomas NAM)