The Wheel

Two lovers meet in a motel room for a tryst. Clay pretends to hunt down Rose with a gun in a playful, frisky way, but then they get to talking, as lovers do, about their near-death experiences. Clay talks about being stepped on by a horse, which put him in a hospital for weeks as he struggled to stay alive. But Rose tells a story about her car breaking down on the deserted highway and being picked up by a man who is a murderer. Her only hope is creating some kind of connection with her potential killer, but that decision has its perils and unexpected consequences

Directed by Emma Elizabeth Tillman, The Wheel leans on a strong ensemble — Drago Sumonja, Susan Traylor, Craig Stark — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 2018.