The Rust trilogy-spanning a decade from 2014 to 2024-is the cinematic equivalent of being stuck on a never-ending merry-go-round of missed potential. The reason I'm reviewing them as one is simple: they don't evolve. They just get longer.
Writer-director Joe Lujan seems to think that by simply elongating his story, he'll create more tension. Spoiler: he doesn't. This trilogy borrows heavily from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween but fails to bring anything new or interesting to the table. Instead of suspense, we get screaming women, cardboard characters, and directionless horror.
The plot is as predictable as a "scary" movie marathon on Halloween night. The characters scream-repeatedly-and cower in fear, but none of their actions or reactions feel remotely believable. Lujan's script is so underdeveloped, the characters are less than one-dimensional. It's the kind of horror where you're wishing for something-anything-to happen, but the film never delivers.
Corey Taylor, NOT the frontman of Slipknot (which would've been better), improves a little by the third movie, but her performance isn't enough to save the cast from its wooden delivery. The rest of the actors fall victim to the script's lack of depth, with performances that make even the cheesiest B-movie feel Oscar-worthy.
Rust (and its sequels) tries to deliver terror but instead serves up irritation. The set pieces and "terrifying" situations fail to elicit even the slightest shiver. If you want real thrills, you're better off avoiding these three films and watching literally anything else.
