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Director
Jen McGowan
Writer
Julie Lipson, Stu Pollard
Stars
Hermione Corfield, Jay Paulson, Sean O'Bryan
Companies
Lunacy, Rust Creek
Released
2019-01-04
Runtime
1h 48min
MPA
R
Genres
Action, Crime, Drama
Countries
USA
Languages
English
Awards
Awards, 9 wins
Keywords
student,drugs,criminal,small town,police
Film ThreatAlan Ng

As Sawyer, Hermione Corfield is probably the most famous of the film’s cast. She is the film’s solid foundation and carries it to the finale. She’s believable, strong, and sympathetic.

ReelViewsJames Berardinelli

Rust Creek, an uneven but ultimately satisfying thriller from indie director Jen McGowan, seamlessly blends horror and thriller elements across its 108-minute running time.

New York Magazine (Vulture)David Edelstein

Rust Creek lets you exhale just a bit. It’s tight without being punishing, and its humor takes you happily by surprise. In this sort of film, you’re on guard for pop-up scares and sudden spasms of gore, not for moments of blessed connection. The humanism feels positively radical.

The PlaylistWarren Cantrell

Tense, relatable, and cut from a familiar narrative cloth, Rust Creek manages to overcome a few character and pacing issues to emerge as a quality thriller.

The A.V. ClubKatie Rife

Screenwriter Julie Lipson’s well-written, naturalistic dialogue helps pass the time, as does Michelle Lawler’s lovely scenic cinematography. But although what we get instead stands on its own merits, this survival thriller could have used a few more thrills.

Los Angeles TimesNoel Murray

Too many scenes run longer than they need to, padded out with overly folksy and reflective dialogue. But McGowan makes good use of autumnal Appalachia, staging a lot of scenes outdoors in the barren, brown hills.

The Film StageJared Mobarak

These characters are sufficiently complex and intertwined to remain interesting, but how they interact can be uninspiring.

Movie NationRoger Moore

The violent payoffs are well-staged and edited, and the archetypes solid. But McGowan can’t force herself or her cast to just get on with what they know they must get on with. The “Creek” never quite dries up, but we never get to the rapids either.

The New York TimesJeannette Catsoulis

Corfield is fine in a role that gives her little opportunity to do more than run and fight, but a woman this empowered removes the question mark from her survival — and the tension from the movie.

RogerEbert.comBrian Tallerico

What’s perhaps most interesting about director Jen McGowan’s film is how much she rescues it from that dreadful opening act, although she can’t quite get it back to something worth recommending, largely due to a major flaw that grows more prominent in contrast as the film gets better.

Breckenridge Festival of Film2018

2018 Winner Best of the Fest
2018 Winner Festival Prize, Jen McGowan
2018 Winner Festival Prize, Hermione Corfield
2018 Winner Festival Prize, Stu Pollard

Rhode Island International Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Directorial Discovery Award, Jen McGowan (director)

San Diego International Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Festival Award
2018 Winner Festival Award, Stu Pollard

Jefferson State Flixx Fest2018

2018 Winner Jury Prize, Hermione Corfield

Film Threat Award This!2019

2019 Winner Award This! Feature, Angie Wang - Jen McGowan