Epic Pictures, a leading distribution and financing company known for its specialty horror label, DREAD, has announced it will release Bystanders, a gritty rape-revenge thriller, across North America for rent or purchase on video-on-demand (VOD) on January 21, 2025.
The film is the directorial debut of Mary Beth McAndrews and stars Brandi Botkin (Bag of Lies), Bob Wilcox, Garrett Murphy, Jamie Alvey, Chaney Morrow (Malum, Wrong Turn, Haunt), and Hannah Fierman (Siren, V/H/S, St. Agatha). Alvey also wrote the script, which takes a bold feminist stance, tackling themes of sexual violence and revenge.
Having garnered critical acclaim during its festival run, the film received multiple awards at the prestigious HorrorHound Film Festival. The film was nominated for 11 awards and took home seven, including Best Feature, Best Director, Best Writer, and Best Supporting Performance for Garrett Murphy. It also earned awards for Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Judges’ Choice, further solidifying its reputation as one of the standout films of the year.
In the film, Clare and Gray are your typical loving millennial couple navigating a jaded world. Abby is a sweet awkward teen. When Abby attends a party held by her crush, a rich frat boy hotshot named Cody, the bash spins out of control when Cody and the boys decide to drug, rape, and hunt several of the girls in attendance. When Abby’s path intersects with Gray and Clare’s path, they form an unlikely alliance during a night of chaos and bloodshed as the trio fight for their lives against the collegiate creeps.
Uniquely positioned from a feminist point of view, for McAndrews, Bystanders is a deeply personal project: “As a sexual assault survivor, being able to tell this story in all of its gory glory has been incredibly cathartic and liberating,” she shared. “A film like Bystanders is more important now than ever and I’m thrilled that Dread is helping us share it with the world.”
Epic Pictures Group CEO Patrick Ewald praised McAndrews’ work on the film. “Mary Beth McAndrews is a visionary in the world of horror, and Bystanders is a testament to her creativity and fearless storytelling. This film is not just a chilling experience; it’s a reflection of Mary Beth’s unique perspective and passion for pushing the boundaries of the genre.”
Bystanders is set to leave a lasting impression when it hits VOD early next year—and the official trailer below will have you counting down the days to its release.
