Las Vegas Mixtape v2: Diving Into the City’s Culinary Gems and Top-Shelf Entertainment — Track #7: “Don’t Get In The Car,” Las Vegas Premiere Film Festival at Galaxy Theatres at The Boulevard Mall

Track #7: “Don’t Get In The Car,” Las Vegas Premiere Film Festival at Galaxy Theatres at The Boulevard Mall

Did you know that our city has the Las Vegas Premiere Film Festival? And a place called Boulevard Mall on Maryland Parkway? I had no idea either existed until I attended a screening of the ultra-dark thriller “Don’t Get In The Car.” It was one of the indie films screened this past August when the festival, now in its fifth year, held court for three days at the Galaxy Theatres.

Ahead of its eventual release to streaming platforms, “Don’t Get In The Car” has been picking up awards on the film festival circuit. In the tradition of “grindhouse films,” it’s a menacing movie about a woman forced to confront her dark past over a harrowing 24 hours. This car ride from hell is highlighted by raw energy and a gal-power storyline in which the bad guys have surprises waiting for them (Quentin Tarantino would approve).

“Don’t Get In The Car” was shot in L.A.—mostly in the middle of the night, without permits—and its downtown streets look mean, claustrophobic, and unforgiving. The screenplay was written by L.A.-to-Vegas resident Staci Layne Wilson (known for her popular “Rock & Roll Nightmares” book series and podcast of the same name) and Clarice Paris, who also directed.