Although this isn't a traditional film noir in many ways, it does contain many themes commonly found in the genre; paranoia, alienation, desperation and so on. Also, the plot is dime store pulp.
Conversely, there is no femme fatale. Additionally, the desert location is outside of the traditional film noir habitat of a city. Also, and I think most importantly, this film is not stylish (aside from the killer's reveal in the backseat), and it's told in a linear fashion.