BYSTANDERS is a new revenge slasher movie. This is a beloved subgenre for many (if not most) horror fans. The movie is a low-budget production but clearly made with passion and purpose. Read our full Bystanders movie review here!

BYSTANDERS is a new horror movie in the revenge niche. It’s a slasher and a survival story – first a survival story in one way and then, as it becomes a revenge story, it’s the predators that struggle to survive.

To me, a good revenge story is a feel-good movie. This one is no exception, but it needs to be tightened up more in pace and storyline. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoyed it, but this is mostly due to the passion of the filmmakers and cast—not so much because the movie as a whole is good.

Continue reading our Bystanders movie review below. Find it On Demand & Digital from January 21, 2025.

Frat boys being frat boys

I’m not saying that all fray boys are cruel and entitled, but the frat boys in Bystanders definitely are. And they are acting in all the stereotypical ways you’d expect. Feigning interest in girls and then pouncing on them with various slurs when they react to their interest in a positive way.

Of course, the same would’ve been the case, if the girls had rejected them. In this case, however, we meet Abby as she goes to a small party held by Cody. He is your average rich frat boy creep who knows he can get away with anything. His entire life has proven this to him and he is having the time of his life now.

Along with his fellow frat boys, they have a very special plan for the night. They drug, rape, and then hunt several of the girls in attendance. As Abby runs away (because they want to hunt her down as part of their “fun”) she flags down Gray and Clare.

This loving millennial couple is no stranger to taking action.

Bystanders (2024) – Review | Revenge Slasher

Stand up for those who cannot fight back

Clare and Gray will not be bystanders in this situation. They see that Abby is in no state to fight back – still reeling from the date rape drugs in her system – and they’re ready to stand up for her. To put it mildly.

Watching this loving couple fight back against the jaded world, they encounter far too often, is a downright treat. They step up and get very hands-on. At this point in time, I was very happy with Bystanders.

MORE REVENGE MOVIES

Check out our “Revenge”-tag for more revenge stories >

Had I watched this in a movie theater during a film festival, I would definitely have enjoyed it even more. It just drags on a little too long for my liking. Bystanders is the kind of movie that has really good bones [core plot] but the meat [storyline] is just a little too lean for me.

Watch Bystanders on Demand

Bystanders is the directorial debut of Mary Beth McAndrews (producer on The Jester and Bag of Lies), and I’m certainly intrigued by what she brought to this story. The director (Ellie in the movie) is a sexual assault survivor herself and stated that “…Being able to tell this story in all of its gory glory has been incredibly cathartic and liberating” which I feel comes across as well.

Jamie Alvey, who stars as Clare in the movie, also wrote the screenplay. This is surely part of why passion and purpose are palpable in this revenge story. Bystanders star Brandi Botkin (Bag of Lies) as the desperate young Abby, with Jamie Alvey and actor Garrett Murphy (who was very intriguing) as her “fighters,” Clare and Gray.

Overall, the cast works really well. I loathed those frat boys, which only speaks to their ability to portray their characters as intended. Bystanders has played at several film festivals and even earned awards at the Nightmares Film Festival and HorrorHound Film Festival.

If you’re a fan of revenge slashers, give this one a shot!

BYSTANDERS is out on VOD (to buy or rent) from January 21, 2025.

Details

Director: Mary Beth McAndrews
Writer: Jamie Alvey
Cast: Brandi Botkin, Bob Wilcox, Garrett Murphy, Jamie Alvey, Chaney Morrow, Hannah Fierman

Plot

A group of murderous frat boys get more than they bargained for when they cross paths with a couple coming home from a wedding.

I write reviews and recaps on Heaven of Horror. And yes, it does happen that I find myself screaming, when watching a good horror movie. I love psychological horror, survival horror and kick-ass women. Also, I have a huge soft spot for a good horror-comedy. Oh yeah, and I absolutely HATE when animals are harmed in movies, so I will immediately think less of any movie, where animals are harmed for entertainment (even if the animals are just really good actors). Fortunately, horror doesn't use this nearly as much as comedy. And people assume horror lovers are the messed up ones. Go figure!
Karina "ScreamQueen" Adelgaard
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