Despite several years of interviews and investigations, theRustshooting that caused the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins still feels like an unresolved case for many. Director Rachel Mason seeks to answer some of these questions in her brand-new documentaryLast Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, which is currently occupying the #1 spot on Hulu’s streaming charts.
On Aug 20, 2025, Hutchinswas fatally shot on the set ofRust, a Western film starring Alec Baldwin. Baldwin had discharged a prop gun that was mistakenly loaded with live rounds instead of blanks, killing Hutchins and seriously injuring director Joel Souza. In the years since, both the court of public opinion and the New Mexican judicial system have battled ceaselessly to determine culpability, eventually chargingRustarmorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed with involuntary manslaughter, and declaring Baldwin’s innocence. But many people, including Hutchins' colleagues, were not satisfied by this outcome, feeling as though justice hadn’t yet been served.
Alec Baldwin Breaks Silence After Surprise Collapse of Rust Trial Case
Alec Baldwin is speaking for the first time after charges against him were dismissed.
Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halynashows a different sideto what has become a black-and-white narrative of total innocence or total guilt. The documentary combines familiar excerpts from news coverage and police interrogations with skillfully placed footage that many followers of Hutchins' case have likely never seen, including an interview with an OSHA investigator who uncovered a systemic pattern of risky behavior on theRustset. Other testimonies reported additional safety concerns, which led to most of Hutchins' crew leaving the set in protest. As a result, Hutchins was forced to stand by Baldwin while he drew the loaded gun, when she should have been viewing Baldwin’s scene safely from monitors. Mason’s unique presentation of these events offers a clear message to viewers: the individuals who stood trial for Hutchins' death — including Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed — are not the only ones that should be held responsible.
Will Justice Ever Be Served?
It’s been four years since Hutchins' death, but audiences are unable to forget her — or the chain of events that claimed her life. For Mason, creatingLast Take: Rust and the Story of Halynawas a way to preserve Hutchins' integrity and personhoodin the midst of a sensationalized scandal. But different people have different ideas about what should happen to ensure that Hutchins receives justice.
In Nov. 2024,Rustfinally premiered in Poland, receiving a fairly warm reception even as the Internet continued to argue over the ethics of promoting a movie that ultimately caused Hutchins' death. Some people believed thatRustwas a commemoration of Hutchins' memory and work, while others protested that it allowed Baldwin to profit from tragedy. As a result, to many viewers, Mason’s documentaryseems like a way to bring Hutchins backto her own story, rather than relegating her to the background. But Mason’s film can’t stand on its own. In order to truly bring Hutchins the justice that she deserves, genuine change has to be made. A central theme ofLast Take: Rust and the Story of Halynawas the systemic negligence that takes place on the majority of movie sets. Many safety standards are blatantly ignored as a result of needless penny-pinching: on the set ofRust, for example, Baldwin did not receive adequate gun safety training, while multiple employees left the set due to their concerns. Hutchins' death could have easily been prevented if safety had been taken more seriously — and that’s the biggest tragedy of her story.
Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halynais available to stream on Hulu.
