‘Bystanders’ Review
Stars: Brandi Botkin, Bob Wilcox, Erica Dodt, Callie Kirk, Zach Hurley, John Conners, Deaton Gabbard, Jamie Alvey, Garrett Murphy, Chaney Morrow, Hannah Fierman, Eric Six | Written by Jamie Alvey | Directed by Mary Beth McAndrews
Abby (Brandi Botkin; Wicked Ones, Bag of Lies) is a typical teenage girl nursing a not-so-secret crush on Cody (Bob Wilcox; The Magician’s Raincoat, Killer Confession), the quintessential rich frat boy. So, when Cody invites her and her friends Jade (Erica Dodt) and Brie (Callie Kirk) to what’s described as a frat party, Abby is elated. However, what she imagines will be a fun night quickly turns into a nightmare.
Cody and his equally privileged and sadistic buddies, Travis (Zach Hurley; The Creature of Blood Lake, The Road Long), Jacob (John Conners), and Brad (Deaton Gabbard; The Whittler, Ganymede), have no intention of hosting a typical party. Instead, their “party” is a setup for something far more sinister. Their real plan involves drugging and assaulting the unsuspecting girls before dumping them in the surrounding woods for a depraved hunt, treating them like animals in a lethal hunt.
Abby manages to escape into the dense forest, reaching the road where she flags down Clare (Jamie Alvey; Mail Order Monster, Your Husband Was a Good Man) and Gray (Garrett Murphy), a duo with their own dark agenda. What she doesn’t realize is these two also love to kill, they are serial killers with a twisted moral code, targeting individuals they deem evil. To them, Cody and his crew fit the bill perfectly.
Writer Jamie Alvey (Your Husband Was a Good Man) and first-time director Mary Beth McAndrews get the film off to a relatively tame start. The first act of Bystanders is surprisingly subdued, with the film choosing to imply rather than explicitly show the horrific crimes committed by Cody and his friends. The violence, though largely offscreen, is conveyed through the men’s vile attitudes and chilling dialogue, dripping with misogyny and entitlement. These young men are despicable caricatures of unchecked privilege, embodying the kind of hatred that festers in dark, incel infested, corners of the internet.
However, once Clare and Gray enter the story, the tone of the film shifts dramatically and there’s little tension or suspense to be found. It’s obvious that they’re experts at what they do, and the douche bros don’t have a chance. While this premise might sound satisfying, the execution leaves much to be desired. Clare and Gray are portrayed as expert killers, making it clear from the outset that Cody and his gang don’t stand a chance. As a result, the film lacks suspense or any genuine sense that the protagonists are ever in any danger.
The plot unfolds predictably, with one drawn-out kill after another. Even when one of the frat boys manages to briefly gain the upper hand against Clare, he rather unbelievably doesn’t kill her, even knowing what she’s capable of. The script seems determined to show that the killers are unstoppable, robbing the story of any stakes or tension.
For viewers seeking a revenge-driven horror film with a satisfying emotional payoff, Bystanders may fall short. While the concept of morally ambiguous killers taking out human monsters has potential, the film leans too heavily into torture porn territory, feeling like Hostel, only with Dexter running the show. And while I have no problem with people like the film’s villains meeting a painful death, watching people with no chance of fighting back or escaping being tortured and killed is, to me at least, pretty boring.
That said, Bystanders isn’t without its merits. The performances, while uneven at times, are generally solid. Bob Wilcox stands out as Cody, delivering a performance that captures the character’s repugnant arrogance and cruelty. His portrayal is so convincing that it’s easy to imagine him becoming a go-to actor for villainous roles in the future. Additionally, the film features brief but memorable appearances from genre veterans Chaney Morrow (Haunt, Mutilator 2) and Hannah Fierman (Dead by Midnight: 11pm Central, Dead by Midnight: Y2Kill). Although their screen time is limited, they provide, although they do provide the closest the film comes to a suspenseful scene.
Visually, the film benefits from the atmospheric cinematography of Chance Madison (Terror Trips, Run to Me Run from Me). The nighttime forest scenes are particularly well-shot, using shadows and muted lighting to create a sense of isolation and unease. The practical effects, though sparingly used, are effective.
So if you just want to see some psychotic bad guys get brutally killed by some psychotic good guys, and I know there is an audience for films like that, you’ll probably like Bystanders. If you want something that’s actually tense or scary, probably not. The lack of tension, coupled with its reliance on prolonged scenes of violence, makes the film feel repetitive and, at times, tedious.
Even the introduction of a late-arriving character (Eric Six; Wolves Against the World, Demonbond) fails to inject much-needed energy or unpredictability into the story. Instead, his appearance serves as yet another excuse for more torture and violence, further highlighting the film’s one-note approach.
Despite its flaws, Bystanders has moments of promise. The concept of morally driven killers targeting irredeemable villains is intriguing, and with a script that delivered more thrills and relied less on lacklustre torture scenes, it could have been a worthy entry in the revenge horror subgenre. As it stands, I’m giving it two stars, but feel free to disregard that if torture films are your thing, Bystanders was made for you, not me.
** 2/5
Bystanders is available on VOD and digital platforms from today, courtesy of Epic Pictures’ horror label, Dread.
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