Last County

"Last County" is an absolute triumph of genre-blending brilliance. This film combines gritty action, dark humor, and heartfelt drama in a way that feels both fresh and nostalgic.

The chemistry between the leads is electric, with their performances delivering both depth and charisma. The script balances sharp wit with poignant moments, all set against a backdrop of atmospheric country landscapes and a pulsating soundtrack that perfectly complements the film's tone.

The film excels in its ability to craft suspenseful sequences while maintaining a sly sense of humor. It's a masterclass in creating tension without losing the human touch. The direction is tight, the pacing relentless, and the plot is both surprising and satisfying.

A tense standoff erupts into bloodshed in Barrett Mulholland's Last County, a wonderfully entertaining Canadian pulp ensemble piece that seems to be so under the radar it took me like a half hour of scrolling on Tubi to come across it. A young woman (Kaelen Ohm from the now infamous horror series From) struggling with alcoholism is trying to dry out at a family vacation home in rural Ontario when an injured drug mule (Gord Randy) shows up and immediately takes her hostage. Inevitably other, far more dangerous people come looking for him and some money he's stashed in the nearby woodlands and things get incredibly tense and liable to explode into gunfire. The real asset this film has is Canadian character actor Nicholas Campbell (remember him from DaVinci's Inquest back in the day?) as the cheerfully psychotic, utterly ruthless yet still somehow quaintly charming local sheriff. He is proudly corrupt and will kill anyone who gets in the way of him finding this cash, but not before exchanging pleasantries first. Campbell, once an angular antihero type, has aged lovably into a shambling silver haired sage, a sort of "Father Christmas of the backroads" archetype and he's equal parts hilarious and terrifying here, creating a villain who is fun to hate, easy to love and hilarious to spend time around. This is a hidden gem in the true sense of the word, a grisly exercise in tightly wound one location suspense that is brutal to the maximum, but has just as many comedic flourishes to soften the blows. Great film.

The cinematography and score in this film work together seamlessly to enhance its unique blend of humor and darkness. The visual style captures the mood perfectly, creating a compelling atmosphere that immerses the audience. As a huge fan of gore I found the film's balance of graphic intensity and thematic depth to be absolutely spot-on.

It manages to deliver both intense, shocking moments and thought-provoking content without compromising on either. This combination makes it a standout piece in its genre, offering an engaging and memorable experience.

I think that Last County gives us something unexpected.

Visceral. Evocative. Unapologetic. Captures the feeling of desperation leading to action. Attention to detail is prevalent in every scene from framing to audio design. A labour of love, and a love letter to cinema as an art form. Wasn't expecting the levels of suspense and twists it managed. Even 2/3rds through it still managed to keep me on my toes. Thematic exploration of the duality of man, banality of evil, survival. A greyscale gradient of moral relativism. This film begs to be re-examined and dissected multiple times to capture the nuances lovingly baked into every frame. Pseudo cinéma vérité. With significant gravitas.

This was a cool action thriller. Reminded me of a Coen Brothers movie with its mix of violence and dark humor. Good script, good acting and quirky characters with good arcs. The cinematography and score were great too. The relationship between the two leads was one of those ones you rarely see in movies- a man and woman forming a bond without falling into sentimental romance. The way the director approached the movie made it into a sort of neo-noir Western- another thing you don't see very often in movies. I think this is the director's first feature and I'm really looking forward to what he does next. I love it when director's can mix humor into dark themes and situations, and this guy ulls it off. Recommended.