A new documentary, Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna, focuses on the life and final moments of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Premiering on Hulu on Tuesday, March 11, the documentary delves into Hutchins’ tragic death on the set of Rust.
Directed by filmmaker Rachel Mason, a close friend of Hutchins, the film includes footage showing first responders arriving at the Rust set in New Mexico in 2021, following the incident that led to the cinematographer’s passing at the age of 42.
The documentary features interviews with key figures, including Rust director Joel Souza—who was wounded by the same bullet that struck Hutchins—along with actors Frances Fisher, Josh Hopkins, and Devon Werkheiser, as well as Hutchins’ mother, Olga.
Alec Baldwin, along with two Rust crew members—armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and first assistant director Dave Halls—were charged in relation to Hutchins’ death.
While only Halls participated in the documentary, both Baldwin and Gutierrez-Reed appear in never-before-seen footage captured on the day of the fatal shooting. The documentary also explores the legal proceedings they each faced.
Baldwin, 66, was indicted in January of last year after a firearm he was holding discharged on the Rust set in October 2021, resulting in Hutchins’ death.
However, the charge against him was dropped in July after his legal team argued that prosecutors had withheld key evidence. Gutierrez-Reed, 28, who was responsible for overseeing prop weapons, received the maximum sentence of 18 months in prison in April.
Halls, who expresses remorse in the documentary, pleaded guilty to negligent use of a deadly weapon.
The Rust Cast and Crew’s Reaction to Halyna’s Passing
On the day of the shooting, the Rust cast and crew were filming at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe. Baldwin and Hutchins were rehearsing a scene where he was supposed to draw his weapon and aim it at the camera.
Terese Magpale Davis, a costume designer for the film, recalls hearing what she described as an “explosion.” A live round discharged from Baldwin’s firearm, striking both Hutchins and Souza.
Hutchins was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Meanwhile, Souza was taken by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Last Take presents footage of cast and crew anxiously waiting for updates about Hutchins and Souza following the incident.
Many gathered inside a large tent as news helicopters hovered above. Hopkins, who plays Sheriff Wood Helm in the film, recalls how a medic initially reassured the crew that Hutchins was “going to be alright,” and many held on to that hope.
At the time, Baldwin was being questioned by police when he was informed of Hutchins’ passing. The documentary includes previously released police footage showing Baldwin in shock, sitting in silence with his hand covering his mouth.
The Rust cast and crew, however, did not receive official confirmation from authorities. Instead, they learned of Hutchins’ death through news reports.
“What’s so f—– is before—we had cops at set and we had people from production at the hospital—before we heard anything officially that she had passed, it came out online,” Werkheiser says.
Describing the moment the news spread among those on set, he adds, “All of a sudden, I just started seeing pockets of people as they read the news, just started seeing pockets of people just like break down. You’re trying to hold onto hope and it was the worst possible outcome for the day.”
Frances Fisher’s Initial Concerns About Set Safety
Frances Fisher, best known for Titanic, plays Evelyn Bassett in Rust. She recalls her first day on set and the moment she noticed armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed carrying multiple firearms.
“My first day coming out of hair and makeup in my full costume, and Alec is at base camp and he’s in his costume, this girl comes over and interrupts our conversation,” Fisher recounts.
“She’s got an armful of guns, just barreled her way in, and I thought it’s very unsafe to be walking around base camp with a whole bunch of guns in your hand. Like, have they been cleared? Why are you doing this? And Alec, he seemed a little, ‘What’s she doing?’ Then I found out she was the armorer. I thought, wow.”
Reflecting on those initial impressions, Fisher later questions whether she should have spoken up.
“Sloppiness. It’s just pure sloppiness. Unprofessional,” she says of Gutierrez-Reed’s firearm handling.
“The sloppiness that Hannah displayed that first day of mine. I wish I had said something to her and I wish I had said something to Alec,” Fisher adds. “But I didn’t want to make waves. And would my alerting somebody, would that have changed anything? That’s what gnaws at me.”
Crew Members Link the Camera Team’s Walkout to Halyna’s Death
Several crew members in the documentary claim that the day Hutchins died was among the most important filming days.
They allege that the production was significantly affected when first camera assistant Lane Luper, along with several other members of the camera department, walked off set due to concerns over working conditions.
Hutchins was reportedly taken aback by their departure but decided to push forward with Souza, working with only one camera.
“They chose to walk out on the day we were having the biggest shootout of the whole show,” special effects coordinator Thomas Gandy states in the documentary.
Gandy explains that on a typical day, the director and cinematographer would stand at video monitors placed a safe distance from the action. However, due to the walkout, there was no video village that day, forcing Hutchins and Souza to stand directly in front of the camera.
“So the only thing between her and the gun was her own hands?” director Mason asks.
Gandy nods and confirms, “Yes, yes.”
David Halls Admits Gutierrez-Reed Was Inexperienced but Hired Due to Her Father’s Reputation
Halls acknowledges in the documentary that Gutierrez-Reed lacked experience but was chosen as the armorer due to her father, Thell Reed, a renowned stuntman and armorer.
“I knew that she had little experience,” Halls admits. “But concern over lack of experience was tempered by knowing that her father was Thell Reed.”
Gutierrez-Reed’s father defended her before her trial, telling Good Morning America he was not worried about her facing jail time. “I’m not worried about that at all,” he stated.
Halyna’s Mother Wanted Rust Completed in Her Daughter’s Honor
Near the documentary’s conclusion, cast and crew reflect on the difficult decision to resume filming after the tragedy.
Hopkins explains he was hesitant to return unless he personally heard from Hutchins’ husband, Matt.
“They said Matt [Halyna’s husband] wants it done. I said, ‘Look, I believe you. But I’m not coming back for anything unless I hear it from his mouth.’ They put me on a Zoom with him. He said he wanted it finished and she would want it finished and people to see her work,” Hopkins recalls.
Halyna’s mother, Olga, who was interviewed in Ukraine, also expressed her desire for the film to be completed.
“I wanted this to happen,” she says. “Maybe some people didn’t want it. But I wanted this to happen because it was a big work of Halyna. She wanted this movie to be finished.”
She also adds, “I wanted this to happen for Andros. I want him to be proud of his mother. I will watch the movie. Absolutely. I want to see my daughter’s work. It’s her big work.”
Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna will be available on Hulu starting March 11.
