Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna

As "Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna" (2025 release; 90 min) opens, it is "October 2021" and we are on the set of a western movie. The unthinkable happens and Alec Baldwin accidentally shoots a live bullet, killing the movie's Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins and wounding the film's director Joel Souza. How did this happen? Rachel Mason, who directed this documentary, informs us that Halyna's husband has asked her to make a film about Halyna's life (and I cannot do that if I don't understand how she died". At this point, we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: I was generally aware of this story as it was in the headlines everywhere when this happened. But I was completely unaware of the details behind it, and this documentary fills most of those holes, while at the same time reflecting on Halyna's life and works. The film makers apparently found a bunch of unseen footage that was shot on the movie set in New Mexico, which is quite helpful. And while certainly the neglect and/or incompetency of several people at undeniable, the bigger picture is that the entire production was being done "on the cheap", cutting corners (including safety corners) left and right, time and again. Just the day before the fatal shooting happened a number of the film crew walked off the set, concerned about the unresolved safety issues on the set. Yet everyone plowed on, And then it was too late. Let's be clear: this is an immensely tragic loss of life, completely preventable. There are only losers in this tragedy. Kudos to the film makers for bringing us this documentary.

"Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna" started streaming on Hulu a week or so ago, and I watched it the other night. If you wonder what actually happened that led to the death of a film maker on the set of Rust (and the aftermath of those events), I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.