‘American Rust’: Season 1 Blu-Ray Review – Slow Burn Crime Drama Excavates The Failings Of Society

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

In an economically devastated Pennsylvania steel town, a complicated and compromised chief of police is forced to decide how far he’s willing to go when the son of the woman he loves is accused of murder. A harrowing journey into the lives of a small town with big secrets, where people are driven by loyalty, love and desperation — and bad choices come far too easy.

For thoughts on American Rust: The Complete First Season, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/l1PXBES-HHw?t=4438]

Video Quality

American Rust: The Complete First Season arrives on MOD Blu-Ray courtesy of Showtime Home Entertainment with a very fetching AVC encoded 1080p transfer. This season consists of nine episodes spread across three discs, allowing plenty of room for episodes to breathe and avoid compression artifacts and aliasing. The show has a thematically appropriate depressed color palette that rarely pops off the screen but is rendered with tremendous nuance and depth. Skin tones appear particularly weathered and detailed across the ensemble. This presentation never disappoints when it comes to harnessing the subtle details of the frame 

Black levels are thankfully deep and provide a notable amount of detail in shadows. Highlights never clip or veer into blooming in this presentation. Every episode maintains a stability which reminds you why physical media is preferred over streaming. The presentation is undoubtedly stronger than the streaming and broadcast versions of the show thanks to compression of that source, but this series is no longer available through its network app so that point is moot regardless. Showtime has delivered a welcome physical media option for a series no longer available to stream with a subscription. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray comes with a sonically nimble DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track that captures the soundscape without issue. Kinetic moments occasionally sneak through, but the narrative is more interested in the slow burn interpersonal drama. When it matters, the track digs in to deliver some texture in the lower registers. The track spotlights environmental sounds in a way that feels authentic and immersive. The score conjures a moody atmosphere for the series which is presented with standout fidelity within the mix. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear without being overshadowed by the music or any sound effects. The audio presentation does exactly what it needs to do. There are English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

There are no special features provided on this release. 

Final Thoughts

American Rust is a bit of a tough watch starting out, as this slow burn tale has the atmosphere of some very successful crime dramas, but very little of the energy. These early episodes set the stage and get you acquainted with the characters, yet with such a brief episode count it might feel too little, too late for some audiences when the story really starts picking up. Even then, the show struggles to have a clear vision or to say something new when it comes to unearthing the failings of modern America. Its biggest asset is the impressive ensemble which keeps you properly captivated. The season ends on a note that has you wanting to hit play on the next episode, so we can only hope the sophomore outing levels up this series to its full potential. Showtime Home Entertainment has delivered a Blu-Ray that offers an excellent A/V presentation but no special features. 

American Rust: The Complete First Season can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Showtime Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.