You remember “Rust.” The film that made it to the headlines during production, but for reasons that no one would have predicted. The death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins put a stain on it that is difficult to recover from. But they managed to finish it, and the movie has been released.
The Release of “Rust”
“Rust” with Alec Baldwin was released today, May 2, 2025. It has a limited theater run and can be streamed on Apple TV, Vudu, and Prime Video. The official website gives the description as:
A 13 year-old boy in 1880’s Wyoming is taken on a harrowing journey to old Mexico by his long estranged grandfather after he’s sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher, with a US Marshall and a vicious Bounty Hunter in pursuit.
The film stars Alec Baldwin, Josh Hopkins, Patrick Scott McDermott, Frances Fisher, and Travis Fimmel. It was written and directed by Joel Souza. The website is quite barren, other than the very basic information. It’s as stark as the pall that hangs over it. It’s also worth noting that Patrick Scott McDermott and Josh Hopkins were cast to replace Brady Noon and Jensen Ackles because of scheduling conflicts after the tragedy.
But Is It Good?
Well, if you’re a fan of westerns like “Yellowstone” and “Horizon,” then this may be the movie for you. The cinematography by Halyna Hutchins and Bianca Cline, who stepped in to finish the movie, stands out as extraordinary. They’ve captured the tone, landscapes, and actors in a way that conveys the feelings of melancholy that you’d expect.
The story is that of an orphaned 13-year-old (Patrick Scott McDermott) who accidentally kills a man and is then sentenced to hang. Before the execution can be carried out, his grandfather (Alec Baldwin) appears, breaks him out of jail, and goes on the run with him. Baldwin’s character, Harland Rust, is already an infamous outlaw. They’re pursued by a U.S. Marshal (Josh Hopkins), who has his own ailing son, and a bounty hunter (Travis Fimmel).
Chemistry develops between the two main characters, and there are plenty of side characters and subplots. The scene they were rehearsing when Hutchins was shot was not included in the film. And, there’s a certain connection with the inciting incident being an accidental shooting.
They dedicated the film to Halyna Hutchins, and there is a quote from her at the end of the film:
What can we do to make this better?
