Francis Galluppi, formerly a musician in a punk band, has crafted several short films with friends before this breakout project. His transition to feature films has been marked by this significant success, landing him the opportunity to direct the next Evil Dead film. The Last Stop in Yuma County is a single-location movie set at the Four Aces, a location familiar from other projects like Palm Springs. The film follows Jim Cummings as a knife salesman who, stranded at a gas station, ends up in a diner with other trapped individuals, including two men on the run after a robbery. The ensemble cast’s tension and interactions drive the story forward.

Galluppi faced a challenging pre-production phase, originally optioning the script to a production studio that promised a large budget and A-list stars. When this fell through, a friend stepped in to help finance the project independently, selling his house to support it.

Galluppi on Getting the Film Made

“I ended up optioning the script to a company that sort of promised they were do it for like, you know, $5 million, and then it was just a real [ __ ] show. We needed a big name, and none of these names were saying yes to a first-time director. Creatively, it was not fitting what I wanted this movie to be. I was like, ‘[ __ ] it, I’m gonna do this myself.’ My DP and I did so much prep, shot listing everything. We used shot designer, went to the location, and photo boarded everything. I wrote letters to actors I wanted to work with and got really lucky. Then James sold his house to finance it. We were so outside the Hollywood system making this movie.”

With a smaller budget, Galluppi relied on simple but effective cinematographic techniques, such as locked-off tripod shots and slow dolly pushes, which fit perfectly with the film’s tone and setting. This minimalistic approach enhanced the story’s confinement and tension.

Galluppi on the Slow Motion Sequence

“It’s a weird thing to read, right? Breaking into slow motion, needle drops written into the script—Roy Orbison’s ‘Crying.’ Every action of what each character is doing, people were like, ‘What the [ __ ] are you doing? This is a music video in the middle of your movie.’ I really had to stick to my guns. I shot that scene a bunch in my living room with my wife on my iPhone, figuring it out in Premiere. During pre-lighting, we did it in the diner location, shot it on my phone, cut it that night. Once I had that rough version, I was like, ‘This is what I’m talking about,’ and showed it with the Roy Orbison song. People started to get it, but it was a weird thing to put in the movie.”

Casting was another crucial element, with Jim Cummings leading the ensemble. Galluppi’s casting process involved personal outreach to actors he envisioned for the roles.

Galluppi on Jocelin Donahue

“With all the actors, I would jump on Zooms. Jocelin lives close, so we met in person, combing through the script. Any dialogue that felt contrived, I’d rewrite it. Sometimes she’d suggest changes, and she’d be spot on. Some actors think their expressions convey everything, but with Jocelin, she always conveyed emotions perfectly through her expressions.”

Balancing drama and comedy was a challenge that Galluppi navigated skillfully, resulting in a film that seamlessly blends tension and humor.

Galluppi on Keeping the Film Grounded

“Nick Logan and Connor Paolo, Travis and the deputy Gavin, were so [ __ ] funny. I let them run with it. They took big swings, and I was all for it. With Jim, I wanted to tone his performance down. This is a film noir, the Everyman getting corrupt, so he couldn’t be over-the-top. Charlotte always had to stay grounded. It was about picking and choosing which characters are absurd and which bring us back to reality.”

Despite being a debut feature, The Last Stop in Yuma County feels polished and assured, reflecting Galluppi’s meticulous planning and confidence. As Galluppi prepares to direct the next Evil Dead film, his approach to filmmaking promises continued success. The Last Stop in Yuma County is currently out in theaters on a limited release and available for rental online.