‘The Last Stop In Yuma County’ Review: Eating at a roadside diner has never been this exciting!

Sometimes it’s refreshing to watch a film without any prior knowledge—skipping the trailer and description entirely. That’s exactly what I did with the darkly comedic thriller The Last Stop in Yuma County. Drawn in by the glowing reviews on social media, I decided to experience the movie without any preconceptions, ready to be surprised.

The film hooks you right from the start, pulling you into the gripping story of a remote roadside diner in the middle of the desert, complete with a nearby motel and gas station. Known as the last stop before the next gas station, all visitors are dependent on the fuel there. The trouble begins when the truck meant to deliver more gas is nowhere in sight. As more visitors slowly trickle into the diner, the scenario escalates into a heart-pounding game of cat and mouse.

Two unhinged and ruthless bank robbers (Richard Brake and Nicholas Logan) storm into the diner, desperately seeking a new getaway car. The waitress, Charlotte (Jocelin Donahue), quickly senses their bad intentions and thinks about calling her husband, the bumbling and careless sheriff who seems straight out of a Scary Movie parody, to warn him. As the tension rises, the robbers take Charlotte and all the other patrons hostage, though some of them are initially oblivious to the imminent danger.

A clever movie that’s a bit absurd yet relentlessly thrilling from start to finish.

The tension is razor-sharp from start to finish, with unexpected and explosive plot twists that add to the film’s intensity. As the story unfolds, one of the first visitors, a kitchen knife salesman (Jim Cummings), proves to be the one who miraculously manages to stay afloat in the dire situation. What ensues is a cascade of foolish decisions, making you want to scream at the screen. The situation deteriorates rapidly, and the film goes completely off the rails.

Alongside the sheriff (Michael Abbott Jr.), his deputy Gavin (Connor Paolo) also comes off as overly comedic and bumbling, which doesn’t necessarily contribute positively to the atmosphere. A gritty, decisive sheriff and a competent deputy could have potentially heightened the tension, but instead, the filmmakers opt for an absurd approach, portraying both characters as rather out of sync. It feels as if two actors from Scary Movie stumbled onto the set of Last Stop in Yuma County by mistake. Thankfully, their presence isn’t too overwhelming in the film, so it’s not a major drawback.

With that being the only critique, it’s clear that the film is one to add to your watchlist. For those who enjoy a clever movie that’s a bit absurd yet relentlessly thrilling from start to finish, Last Stop in Yuma County is definitely a recommendation not to be missed.

Last Stop in Yuma County is available to buy & rent on streaming platforms in the US. As it stands, it is not available in the UK. We will update as soon as it is.

This article has been written in partnership with The Nerd Shepherd.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Instagram Twitter(X) YouTube TikTok