Rust Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Rust Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 26, 2025

In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of “Rust,” shot with a loaded weapon in a horrible accident that sent shockwaves throughout the film industry. There’s been headline news, lawsuits, and even a crude documentary released just month (“Last Take”), and now, surprisingly, there’s an actual feature. Cast and crew set out to complete the movie years after Hutchins’s death, a production push eerily reminiscent of 1994’s “The Crow,” which also carried on after a tragic loss. Now a completed picture, “Rust” makes it to release, hoping to offer cinematic artistry and a thought-provoking story, as writer/director Joel Souza endeavors to realize his vision for a decidedly “Unforgiven”-esque tale of violence and the corrosive effects of such living on those who choose darkness. There are obvious challenges when watching the effort, especially getting past its real- world horror, but Souza also doesn’t make a very compelling offering, taking an exceptionally long time (140 minutes) to stew in mental illness, which doesn’t hold much dramatic power.

Lucas (Patrick Scott McDermott) is a boy forced to become a man after the loss of his parents, tasked with keeping up the family’s land and raising his little brother, Jacob. Times are tough and Lucas is running out of options to keep living. Allowing his temper to get the best of him, Lucas participates in a moment of violence inside a general store, and in an attempt to hunt a wolf, he accidentally kills a man. Arrested and sentenced to death by hanging, Lucas is pulled from certain doom by Harland (Alec Baldwin), who claims to be the child’s grandfather. A known outlaw and a man who’s killed many, Harland looks to escort Lucas to Mexico for safety, but his presence triggers a major bounty for his capture, inspiring Sheriff Wood (Josh Hopkins) and bounty hunter Lang (Travis Fimmel) to pursue them across dangerous terrain.

The details of Jacob’s days are filled in as the story unfolds, but he’s introduced as a kid trying to bring order to the chaos of his life. Fighting to maintain the family farm without parents, Jacob is pulled thin, attempting to simulate the adult experience for his sibling as the pair slowly run out of food and supplies. “Rust” does an excellent job capturing such desperation, following Jacob as he tries to make sense of it all, losing his temper along the way, which kicks off a series of troubles that end up in an accidental shooting. The horror of the moment sends the character into shock, and Souza develops this disruption for as long as possible, as Jacob aims to deny his future meeting with a noose. “Rust” attempts a literary-style approach to storytelling, moving over to Wood, who’s handling the law while losing his own son to unrelenting illness, working to keep his pain hidden.

Harland enters “Rust” in the second act, taking possession of Jacob while identifying himself as family. He’s a gruff man, a seasoned cowboy dealing with his own issues, looking to protect Jacob from a horrible fate. The story settles into an episodic rhythm, following the characters as they cross America, meeting people along the way that either help or hinder progress. Souza’s in no hurry with the feature, out to inspect the stains of violence as all the characters have lost so much to aggression. There are stretches of existentialism in the writing, and Souza commits to thickly sliced western language to help with communication, which is a bit too showy at times. “Rust” endeavors to be meditative as three subplots form, mostly focusing on Harland’s shadowy past and protection of Jacob, who receives a rough education on the ways of life and survival, contributing to the abrupt loss of his boyhood.

Rust Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The visual presentation (2.38:1 aspect ratio) for "Rust" deals with a film that has the tendency to get incredibly dark at times. Delineation is satisfactory, making sense of evening events and the feature's love of shadowy imagery. Detail is acceptable, exploring all kinds of weathered faces and battered characters. Skin particulars are clear, along with the textures of facial hair. Costuming explores fibrousness on period outfits, many favoring thick, heavy material. Interiors maintain depth, visiting living spaces and community places, securing decorative additions. Exteriors sustain dimension, as the movie offers plenty of big outdoor travel shots that reach quite far. Color maintains its intent, favoring a drained appearance, almost sepia- like at times. Stronger hues with blood and Native American appearances register as intended, along with greenery. Compression has its struggles, with banding periodically detected.

Rust Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix provides fresh dialogue exchanges, maintaining dramatic intensity and hushed encounters. Scoring supports with authority, delivering crisp instrumentation and emphasis. Surrounds maintain activity with musical moods, and atmospherics are appreciable around community gatherings and nature displays. Mild separation effects are present. Sound effects are distinct. Low-end supports violent encounters and musical power.

Rust Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

To the surprise of no one, there is no supplementary material on this release.

Rust Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Souza doesn't manage subplots with ease, finding Lang's journey almost an afterthought in the final cut. His scenes don't work (including a tryst with a lonely widow), contributing to maddening overlength that's completely unnecessary, especially when there isn't much more to the tale than mournful moments and passes at frontier poetry. Performances are acceptable (Frances Fisher shines bright in a small role as Jacob's great aunt), but Souza doesn't have dramatic momentum, and the picture doesn't build to an explosive conclusion (even with gun battles), or a profound one. It simply remains gloomy and inert. Maybe this is the only way forward for "Rust," as most viewers will come to the picture to see Hutchins's work (co-credited with reshoot cinematographer Bianca Cline), which oddly keeps visuals in the shadows, making darkness the star of the endeavor. And perhaps that's the way it should be.