Payback Comes With Interest: Las Vegas Action Thriller “The Score” Delivers a Brutal Tale of Revenge

With an entirely Las Vegas-based cast, a predominantly local crew, and a powerhouse combination of filmmakers, musicians, and martial arts professionals, The Score is bringing a new level of intensity to independent filmmaking in Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas has never been a stranger to stories about crime, betrayal, and revenge. But in The Score, a gritty, 75-minute action thriller from director William Wiersma, the city’s darker side becomes the backdrop for a violent confrontation where justice and vengeance become dangerously indistinguishable.

Filmed in Las Vegas with 90% of its crew and 100% of its cast based locally, The Score is an ambitious independent production that brings together an eclectic mix of actors, musicians, influencers, professional fighters, and experienced film industry veterans.

The result is a high-stakes crime thriller built around a deceptively simple premise: What happens when two men, each convinced they have been wronged, refuse to walk away?

A Deadly Game of Revenge

The story follows Tyler Hayes, portrayed by Carter Moczan, a military veteran whose life is turned upside down when he returns home during a robbery. Devastated by the incident and determined to reclaim what was taken from him, Tyler decides to take justice into his own hands.

But what begins as a seemingly straightforward plan quickly spirals into catastrophe when a civilian is accidentally killed.

The victim has powerful connections to Sav, a ruthless criminal kingpin portrayed by Las Vegas musician Mario “Rio” Rivas, who returns to the city determined to uncover the truth and make those responsible pay.

As the violence escalates, Tyler and Sav become locked in an increasingly destructive cycle of retaliation, each believing his actions are justified.

It’s a story that explores the consequences of revenge and the dangerous territory between right and wrong, where one act of violence can set an entire world on fire.

In a world where everyone believes they’re right, revenge doesn’t come without consequences.

Bringing Hollywood-Level Action to an Independent Production

Behind the camera is William Wiersma, a Seattle native and former professional dancer whose background in movement and physical storytelling has helped shape his approach to filmmaking.

Known for his energetic visual style and precision-driven action sequences, Wiersma brings experience from award-winning short films including Protocol 11 (2019) and The Bookkeeper (2022). His previous work has earned recognition for directing, action filmmaking, and visual effects, alongside a Regional Emmy nomination.

The Score marks his feature directorial debut.

Joining Wiersma is producer and co-writer Sylvia Okafor, whose background in film and television production operations and program management has helped turn ambitious creative concepts into completed productions.

For Okafor, the film represents an exploration of moral ambiguity and the consequences of allowing revenge to dictate one’s decisions. The familiar philosophy of “an eye for an eye” becomes the foundation for a story in which everyone believes they are justified, even as the consequences grow increasingly devastating.

Cinematographer John-John Roque, also making his feature film debut, brings an extensive background in commercial filmmaking, experimental projects, dance films, and narrative storytelling. Like Wiersma, Roque draws upon his experience in dance to create an approach to cinematography rooted in movement, rhythm, and emotional expression.

But perhaps one of the production’s most notable elements is its commitment to physical action.

Stunt choreographer Philip Sahagun brings an impressive background in martial arts and performance to the project. His credits include Day Shift (2022), and his experience includes coaching and choreography for Cirque du Soleil, alongside training work connected to the Jackie Chan Stunt Team.

Sahagun’s involvement, combined with contributions from martial arts champions and professional fighters, gives the independent production an experienced foundation for its action sequences.

Among the cast is Anthony Njokuani, a two-time Muay Thai champion and former WEC/UFC fighter, who appears as an assassin.

A Cast That Reflects Las Vegas

One of the most interesting aspects of The Score is its unconventional casting approach, which draws talent from several corners of the Las Vegas entertainment community.

Alongside Carter Moczan as Tyler and Mario “Rio” Rivas as Sav, the film features Lluvia Giacoman as Tracy, Ethan “Cing” Casper as Brad, Anthony “Nino” Smith as Mark, and Donny B. Lord as Carlos.

Casper brings television experience from projects including This Is Us and CSI: Vegas, while Smith’s previous credits include Arena Wars and Bermuda Island.

Rivas, known for his music career and tracks including “3 AM,” makes his feature film debut in one of the story’s central roles. Fellow Las Vegas musician Donny B. Lord, whose background includes collaborations with Jackie Jackson, also makes his feature debut.

Local influencer and online streamer Zyshonne Lang joins the cast as Dante, further expanding the production’s reach into the city’s creative community.

The supporting cast also includes performers and stunt professionals who help populate the film’s dangerous criminal underworld.

Behind the scenes, Las Vegas filmmaker Michael Tushaus serves as a producer. Tushaus and his Digisphere Productions have accumulated 10 Regional Emmy wins, with a filmography that includes Abigail Haunting and Darkest of Lies.

The production’s technical team includes stunt coordinator Kevin Sanders, high-fall coordinator Tricia Woo, special effects supervisor Bryan Wiersma, special effects makeup artist Tatum Wesloski, and visual effects contributions from Bloom Visuals and TABO Media Productions.

Independent Filmmaking That Packs a Punch

The Score has already drawn favorable attention from independent film critics.

Film Threat awarded the film a 7.5/10, highlighting its gritty approach to the action-thriller genre, uncompromising antagonist, and old-school storytelling sensibilities.

Meanwhile, Take 2 Indie Review gave the film a 4/5, recognizing the performances, cinematography, and the film’s immersive action sequences.

Both reviews point toward a production that embraces the intensity and moral complications of its central premise rather than relying exclusively on spectacle.

For Behind the Scenes Las Vegas, projects like The Score are particularly interesting because of what they reveal about the talent already working within Nevada’s independent film community.

The film brings together professionals with established television and film credits, award-winning filmmakers, local recording artists, experienced martial arts performers, and emerging actors making their feature debuts.

It’s a combination that demonstrates the possibilities of collaboration across entertainment disciplines, particularly in a city with such a diverse pool of creative talent.

While much of the conversation surrounding Nevada’s film industry continues to focus on major studio investments and tax incentives, productions like The Score offer another perspective: filmmakers are already assembling the talent, resources, and professional relationships necessary to produce ambitious projects independently.

And with nearly its entire production workforce drawn from Las Vegas, the film represents an investment in the people who make up the city’s creative community.

At its heart, however, The Score remains a story about two men whose pursuit of justice ultimately threatens to destroy everything around them.

In a world where everyone believes they’re right, revenge doesn’t come without consequences.

And in The Score, payback comes with interest.

For more information about the film, visit watchthescoremovie.com or follow @thescoremovie on Instagram.