Summary

• American Rust takes a more sympathetic approach compared to Hillbilly Elegy, avoiding controversy.
• American Rust focuses on well-crafted storytelling without judging its characters, unlike Hillbilly Elegy.
• The series portrays the struggles of Rust Belt residents with empathy, creating an emotional impact, although it also received poor reviews.

The crime drama series Hillbilly Elegy, yet the two projects may not be as similar as they seem. After Hillbilly Elegy’s release in 2020, it received harsh criticism from reviewers, many of whom stated that a lack of authenticity prevented the film from being faithful to the memoir it was based on. Though American Rust has also garnered poor reviews, the reason behind it is a bit different, and this is for the better.

Despite an 82% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, critics' reviews of Hillbilly Elegy early on claimed that the film provided a skewed perspective on poverty. Though the film attempted to provide a message about how a person can improve their life when they take responsibility for their decisions, it often came across as blaming poor people for their situation. American Rust's reviews don't include similar complaints, yet the show isn't free from criticism. Reviewers felt that the Showtime series was too sad and dark without a strong story to it.

American Rust (Mostly) Takes A Different Path Than Hillbilly Elegy

American Rust Is More Sympathetic Than Hillbilly Elegy

Though both productions take place in the Rust Belt and show the challenges faced by those who live there, their premises set American Rust and Hillbilly Elegy apart. American Rust depicts the struggles of Del Harris, the local police chief who shields a young murder suspect from being discovered, bringing his morality into question. Meanwhile, Hillbilly Elegy follows the true story of J.D. Vance, a law student who confronts his childhood trauma when his mother has a drug overdose. Despite having similar settings and themes, the series diverge in story, and how it is executed.

Hillbilly Elegy depicts these problems as well, but its characters aren't given time to express the weight of their struggles.

Furthermore, American Rust approaches its story with a more understated tone than Hillbilly Elegy. For example, Del Harris’ addiction to prescribed medications is treated with solemnity as audiences see how it has affected him, for better or worse. Hillbilly Elegy depicts these problems as well, but its characters aren't given time to express the weight of their struggles. American Rust’s empathy creates scenes that are more emotionally impactful. Of course, both series pull on the tragedy of the Rust Belt, but American Rust at least attempts to sympathize with its struggling characters.

American Rust Avoids Hillbilly Elegy's Controversy

American Rust Doesn't Judge Its Characters

The most pivotal difference that sets American Rust apart is that the TV series avoids the Hillbilly Elegy's controversies. The 2020 movie was heavily criticized for making broad generalizations and stereotyping Appalachia. The story seemingly blames poor people for being poor without truly grappling with the underlying factors that contribute to generational poverty.

Hillbilly Elegy received a 25% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, while American Rust has a 26% score as of the writing of this article.

American Rust avoids this fate. Rather than moralizing, the series is focused on telling a well-crafted narrative. It explores issues faced by those living in the Rust Belt but places greater importance on its role as a drama rather than as a vehicle for a particular idea. Though American Rust hasn't been particularly successful, it tells a story similar to Hillbilly Elegy without falling into the ruts that have made the memoir-turned-movie so divisive.