Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like The Last Stop in Yuma County:
Strange Darling
Strange Darling wears its influences on its sleeve. Director JT Mollner isn’t ashamed to let his inspirations be known as his latest thriller delivers twists and turns around every corner, and is told in a nonlinear fashion that makes it really hard not to think of a few classics. The likes of James Wan and Quentin Tarantino come to mind for these reasons, but Mollner’s Strange Darling doesn’t feel nearly as fresh as Saw or Pulp Fiction felt decades ago.
No Country for Old Men
Revisiting No Country for Old Men on its 4K Criterion Collection release reminded me why this film stands among the greats—not just of 2007, not just of the 21st century, but of all time. It’s Joel and Ethan Coen at their most precise and uncompromising, blending their dualistic approach to filmmaking: the sharp nihilism of their darker works with the understated, situational humor that defines their lighter outings. It’s a masterpiece of tension, craft, and existential dread, all wrapped in a narrative as sparse and unrelenting as the Texas landscape it inhabits.
A Perfect World
A Perfect World is one of those films that could only have been made during a very particular stretch of Hollywood history—a mid-budget, adult-focused drama anchored by big movie stars like Kevin Costner and Clint Eastwood, with Eastwood also stepping in behind the camera fresh off his Oscar-winning triumph with Unforgiven. That the film managed to gross $135 million worldwide feels almost unthinkable by today’s standards, where intimate, morally complex dramas rarely draw crowds on that scale.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Directed by Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a film that defies categorization. At once a Western, a character study, a crime drama, and a meditation on the nature of fame and legend, it is a film that offers something for every viewer, yet never loses its focus or its power.
Read our full review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Panic Room
While Panic Room may seem like less ambitious in scale compared to some of Fincher’s other works, the movie stands as a testament to his versatility as a filmmaker. From the moment the Altman mother-daughter duo are thrust into the claustrophobic depths of their panic room, the film becomes a relentless, punishing exercise in suspense and dread.
Novocaine
Novocaine works best as an entertaining genre exercise. It’s competently made, sometimes clever, and visually sharp. But it never quite reaches the heights it’s aiming for. It doesn’t reimagine the action-comedy or elevate its characters beyond the surface. Still, it’s a watchable 90 minutes, and for fans of Jack Quaid or high-concept thrillers with a soft edge, it’s worth a casual look.
Blood Simple
Nearly every time I revisit Blood Simple, I’m struck by how confident and precise Joel and Ethan Coen were right out of the gate. Released in 1984, Blood Simple is the Coen brothers’ debut film and still stands as one of the greatest first features ever made. A neo-noir steeped in paranoia, betrayal, and bloody miscommunication, it’s a film that knows exactly what it wants to be—lean, stylish, and razor-sharp.
Ambulance
I have a confession to make. I did not see Ambulance on the big screen and it is easily my biggest regret of 2022 so far in terms of film watching. Every moment of Michael Bay’s newest heist, getaway, cocaine-driven anxiety trip is worth the price of admission, VOD rental, and 4k blu-ray bundle all sandwiched together into one.
The Order
The Order may not offer anything particularly new by industry standards, but Justin Kurzel‘s direction keeps the film engaging and intriguing as the story unfolds. It’s well-made and interesting, even though it draws on themes and styles found in many similar movies. While some argue that Hollywood no longer makes films like it used to, The Order feels like it came from a different time.
Drop
Drop is a thriller with a sharp hook and solid performances, especially from Meghann Fahy, but it never quite figures out what to do with its own setup. With stronger narrative dynamics and less time watching its lead react to a phone screen, it could have been something far more memorable. Instead, it’s a middling entry in the tech-thriller genre—watchable, but frustrating in execution.
