“It’s a satisfying depiction of assholes getting their just due, of toxic masculinity being met with the heavy hand of street justice and the delicious fear of the small fish that believes itself to be at the top of the food chain finding out far too late there are always bigger and badder fish out there.”

Justin Lore, Cinepunx

“Bystanders won Best Horror Feature at Nightmares Film Festival and McAndrews was nominated for Best Director, Feature, both for good reason. It’s a well paced, winningly acted shocker directed with a great deal of verve.”

Joseph Perry, Horrorfuel

“I’ll simply say this: it contains one of the best narrative turns that I have seen this year.”

Daniel Baldwin, Dread Central

“She [Alvey] owns this role. We learn her backstory as to why she’s the woman that she’s become. It’s also interesting that she met a guy like Gray, who is not all that dissimilar to her, and they work so well off of each other. I actually think they make a pretty perfect couple. I just like how in control they always seem, and that’s unnerving at times. …this is a solid little rape-revenge film.”

David Garrett Jr, Journey With a cinephile

“At times harrowing and at times shockingly funny – an interesting twist on the subject matter, with some pleasant-surprise performances!”

Foster 554 on Letterboxd

“Three girls get invited to party in cabin by some boys with very bad intentions only to have the tables turn. A difficult watch but I thought it did a great job exploring some pretty thorny issues.”

PhillyFilmFan on Letterboxd

“Bystanders walks a tonal tightrope, maintaining a very dark sense of humor while working within a subgenre where levity is hard to come by. Garrett Murphy delivers a great performance as a very unique character, the likes of which I don’t believe I’ve ever seen in a rape-revenge film.”

Blair Hoyle on Letterboxd