<em>Rust</em> has emerged as one of the most discussed films in recent years, primarily due to the tragic circumstances that unfolded during its production. Four years following the accidental shooting that resulted in the death of the film’s cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza, the Western film has finally been released, thanks to the efforts of distributor Falling Forward Films. However, initial viewer responses seem lukewarm, as indicated by Rust’s underwhelming Rotten Tomatoes rating.

As of the publishing of this article, Rust holds a “rotten” critic score of 48% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 21 reviews. Notably, the film has yet to receive any audience reviews on the platform, suggesting that viewers may have a different reaction than critics typically do, which often happens with various films. Describing the film, Collider’s Luna Guthrie stated that it is “about as standard a Western as you can imagine, hitting all the expected narrative beats and clichés of the genre, yet the technical quality is undeniable.”

It is also possible that potential audiences are deterred from viewing the film due to the tragic events associated with its making. On October 21, 2021, during filming in New Mexico, Rust star Alec Baldwin discharged a prop revolver that mistakenly contained a live round, injuring Hutchins and Souza. Hutchins tragically passed away shortly after being transported to the hospital. Following this incident, production was halted indefinitely, and Baldwin, along with armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reid and first assistant director David Halls, faced charges in New Mexico related to the shooting incident. Baldwin’s charges were later dropped, while Halls was sentenced to six months of probation. Gutierrez-Reid was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and received an 18-month prison sentence.

Experience ‘Rust’: A Timeless Classic Western

Source: Rotten Tomatoes