Rust Movies (2025): A Western Steeped in Tragedy and Redemption

Joel Souza’s Rust Movies (2025) is a gripping Western drama that carries the weight of real-life tragedy. Starring Alec Baldwin, Patrick Scott McDermott, and Travis Fimmel, the film tells a story of survival, family, and the consequences of violence, all while being overshadowed by the tragic on-set accident that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

Set in 1880s Wyoming, Rust follows 13-year-old Lucas Hollister (Patrick Scott McDermott), who accidentally kills a man and is sentenced to hang. As gallows are built outside his jail cell, his estranged grandfather, Harland Rust (Alec Baldwin), a notorious outlaw, arrives to break him out. Their escape sets off a relentless pursuit by U.S. Marshal Wood Helm (Josh Hopkins) and bounty hunter Preacher Lang (Travis Fimmel), leading to a tense and emotional journey across the rugged frontier.

The film explores themes of redemption, survival, and the weight of past sins. Baldwin delivers a compelling performance as Harland Rust, portraying a man hardened by time and regret. The cinematography, originally helmed by Hutchins and later completed by Bianca Cline, is one of the film’s strongest elements, capturing the stark beauty of the Western landscape.

While Rust offers a visually stunning and emotionally charged narrative, some critics note that the pacing is uneven, with subplots occasionally slowing the momentum. The film’s connection to real-life tragedy adds an unavoidable layer of tension, making it difficult to separate the story from its troubled production.