‘Rust’ Director Regrets Movie, Rather “Hit Myself With Frying Pan” Than Watch Baldwin’s Reality Show

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After several years and enormous tragedy, the ill-fated Rust will finally be released on Friday.

Western filmmaker Joel Souza, who also penned the script, has mixed feelings about his work following the unfortunate incident involving Halyna Hutchins, the movie’s cinematographer. Tragically, she was accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin in 2021. After much discussion, Souza and the cast and crew resumed filming to complete the project.

Hutchins’ family desired it to be finished, as Souza shared with The Guardian. The notion of returning had initially turned him off, but eventually, the prospect became attractive. In the end, he could not bear the thought of another person taking on the task.

As a gamer, if I could rewind time, I’d choose to skip writing that movie. It’s like the butterfly effect; one tiny mistake can lead to a storm of consequences. Looking back on that fateful day, it seems like one poor choice led to another.

In a recent court decision, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who worked as a prop armorer on movie sets, has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and is currently serving an 18-month prison sentence. Alec Baldwin was initially charged with the same offense in connection to this incident, but those charges were dropped in December due to issues with evidence management.

“We’re not friends,” Souza says of Baldwin. “We’re not enemies. There’s no relationship.”

Souza mentioned that he didn’t catch the latest overly-bright family reality series of the actor, titled “The Baldwins,” on Max. The show has received poor ratings and feedback from viewers. In his words, “I must have been frantically slapping myself with a frying pan when it was broadcasted.

To put it simply, restarting the film shoot was a challenging period filled with strong emotions. Incidentally, the same gunshot that fatally wounded Hutchins also struck Souza in the shoulder. Consequently, the director found himself directing an actor who, albeit unwittingly, had shot him during the production.

Souza expressed that he felt disorganized and unsettled both before and after the event. He attributed this to the incredible support of his crew and family, as they helped him navigate through a wide range of emotional states.

The film review by The Hollywood Reporter describes it as a “straightforward Western, delving into the timeless theme of cowboys and bandits, beautifully set against breathtaking landscapes and exploring the ethical quandaries deeply rooted in our national folklore. While the movie is well-crafted and engaging at times, it maintains a commonplace feel that affects its pace. Despite being visually appealing, the story could evoke stronger emotions, as it seems to fall short in connecting with viewers on an emotional level. The review further commends the cinematography, which was initially handled by Hutchins and subsequently completed by Bianca Cline. It’s unclear where Hutchins’ work ends and Cline’s begins, but the final product is seamless and visually striking. The movie offers some striking scenes that manipulate shadows and silhouettes, and there’s no lack of dramatic gunfights staged effectively.

Beginning May 2nd, the movie “Rust” will have a restricted theatrical premiere. It can also be purchased to stream online for $14.99 on platforms like Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and various video-on-demand services.

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2025-05-01 18:24