"BYSTANDERS" (2025) Upends One Of Horror's Most Taboo Sub-Genres (REVIEW)
One of the blessings of age is the ability to have a longer runway of hindsight to reflect on. While not everyone partakes in this opportunity, as fans of the horror genre in every regard, tracking its history over time is something of a shared goal amongst many fans. It’s why some folks will hone in on specific sub-genres or filmmakers, a way to immerse yourself in the past and present so you can both reflect and predict what is to come. This applies to the sub-genres of horror as much as the genre as a whole, as our society changes and our cultures shift so do the films that occupy these sub-genres. The rape-revenge genre has often remained somewhat static over the decades (as we alluded to in our interview with Director Mary Beth McAndrews), but our understanding of the real-life fears that stem from that genre has certainly adapted. While there is still a lot of work to be done, we are more open to discussing, demonizing, and confronting sexual violence and assault. This is the perfect environment for a film like “Bystanders” from DREAD Presents directed by Mary Beth McAndrews and a script from Jamie Alvey. Is this new take on a worn genre worth getting excited about?
WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A group of murderous frat boys gets more than they bargained for when they cross paths with a couple coming home from a wedding.
HOW IS IT?
Rape Revenge films are some of the hardest films to watch and for good reason. They force us to confront one of the ugliest aspects of our humanity and often do so in ways that leave little to the imagination to garner the greatest impact. These films challenge us, but they also walk a fine line balancing being exploitative and effective. Much of this may have to do with the fact that historically, men have been the directors of these films which can limit the empathy and ability to see this from outside the perspective of the male gaze. In the last 15 years, those dynamics have changed, and “Bystanders” is emblematic of the maturation of the genre by telling stories about survivors that aren’t marred in “torture porn.” “Bystanders” takes the tropes that we all know, and flips them around to present something far more compelling than just awful deeds done by terrible people.
At the heart of “Bystanders” is a dual story about exacting revenge while also confronting the harsh reality that vengeance isn’t a cure-all for trauma. Heather (Hannah Fierman) and her friends are invited to a party hosted by a group of guys who truly represent the worst of the gender, and “Bystanders” wastes no time showing you just how awful these lads are. Instead of relying on graphic imagery to make the point, “Bystanders” uses the perspective of a drugged-up Heather to put the viewer in the shoes of someone being sexually assaulted. Instead of seeing this on screen, we hear how the guys talk about Heather and her friends and what they plan on doing, or have already done. It’s hard to sit through, along with the choice of vocabulary these guys use to refer to women…spoiler alert, it’s not great. Once Clare (Jamie Alvey) and Gray (Garrett Murphy) serendipitously arrive, it becomes clear that the balance of power has shifted and the predators are going to become the prey. While most films would be content just to stop there and let the mayhem fly, “Bystanders” makes suggestions about why Clare and Gray are the way they are while also challenging the notion that it’s just.
One thing that will stand out is the tone of “Bystanders.” More specifically it operates in an adjacent version of reality that reflects our own but with some exaggeration. Some viewers may find it hard to get past this, but from our perspective, it adds some much-needed levity to the narrative without diminishing the impact of the message. “Bystanders” isn’t a movie about rape and revenge so much as it is a movie about taking back agency after being assaulted while grappling with the reality that no matter what kind of justice or retribution you get, it will likely not solve the problem entirely as much as provide some quick gratification. While there are certain characters you’re rooting for and against, the lines of good/bad are often blurred by the very characters you are rooting for, and they make it known in their dialogue. It suggests that even as viewers, the catharsis that comes from seeing ne’er-do-wellers get their comeuppance is surface level and doesn’t get to the root of the problem. Some of this is alluded to while some of it is based on our reading of the film, and perhaps that is the only gripe within the film. It doesn’t lean enough into the why, and when it does it is often interrupted by something audaciously violent. While it doesn’t dwell on the psychological or philosophical at length, it does what it sets out to do by upending the sub-genre by playing with our expectations and presenting a more light-hearted, but still violently thoughtful take on one of horror’s most taboo topics.
LAST RITES
“Bystanders” is successful at giving viewers a more fulfilling version of the rape-revenge genre that doesn’t defer to transgressive and graphic images of assault, but instead a cathartic and slightly humorous take that never gets too serious while dealing with heavy topics and awful people.
THE GORY DETAILS
Directed By
Written By
Starring
Where can you watch it?
“Bystanders” will be available for rent or purchase on video-on-demand (VOD) on January 21, 2025!
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