Mary Beth McAndrews: Shattering the Male Gaze in ‘Bystanders’

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Mary Beth McAndrews is determined to make art that wakes people up.

She points out that strong female characters have long been present in horror films. However, she notes a significant change in the last decade: more women are being granted budgets to produce movies that address women’s issues in a direct and powerful manner, rather than subtly hinting at them. Instead of whispering, we’re now shouting, ‘It’s time to pay attention! We’re going to force you to confront the male gaze.’

McAndrews is making a splash with her first directorial effort, “Bystanders,” now streaming on VOD through Dread. The movie centers around Abby (Brandi Botkin), a young lady who attends a frat party with friends only to find them drugged, sexually assaulted, and pursued by men. However, Abby encounters a couple (Jamie Alvey & Garrett Murphy) who are prepared to stand alongside her in defiance against her tormentors.

For McAndrews, the niche of horror subgenres centered around rape revenge has held a strong appeal, given that he serves as the chief editor at Dread Central, a platform dedicated to horror genre news.

She has frequently discussed this matter previously, and she shares that she is a survivor of sexual assault. Discussing her past experiences with rape can be difficult, but she believes it’s crucial to share her perspective. The portrayal of rape in revenge movies intrigues her, particularly those like ‘I Spit on Your Grave,’ ‘Ms .45’ and others that are predominantly male-oriented. These films have elements of catharsis, but they also raise concerns about exploitation. However, after watching ‘Revenge,’ directed by Coralie Fargeat, her perspective shifted dramatically. She recognized that sexual assault can be depicted in various ways within the genre without resorting to exploitative tactics. In her opinion, survivors have a unique and more insightful viewpoint when it comes to portraying sexual assault on screen. She advocates for not avoiding these sensitive topics in media.

The screenplay “Bystanders” was penned by Alvey after a long period of development and revisions spanning approximately eight years. McAndrews, an expert in the study of rape revenge films with a master’s degree, immediately grasped Alvey’s unique perspective.

McAndrews expresses that the genre has held a deep academic fascination for him since the start, he then goes on to share that upon reading the script, he felt captivated, thinking ‘This is exceptional! We require more films of this caliber.’ He’s particularly drawn to the visual concept of a bridesmaid, clad in her dress, pursuing frat boys.

After that, she submitted the script to Dread Central with a recommendation for them to produce the movie through their DREAD distribution service. This independent brand has been creating low-budget horror films since 2017, including “The Golem,” “The Lodgers,” and “Director’s Cut.” When they saw McAndrews’ vision, the DREAD team invited her to direct the film. Once she agreed, they respected her unique approach to the material.

In this movie, Jamie and I chose not to depict any assaults on-screen. Instead, we aim to convey the emotional impact through the aftermath, without objectifying or exploiting young girls. Our intention is to portray the danger these boys pose, without turning their actions into a sensationalized ‘boys torturing girls’ narrative that horror genre often perpetuates. The violence in our film will be implied, and our challenge was finding a balance between depicting the harsh reality without reducing it to a spectacle of young men being victimized. This was the mental framework guiding our approach to violence and where we drew the line for the cinematic experience within the film.

The heartfelt narratives presented in “Bystanders” elicited diverse responses during its screening at various film festivals. Notably, McAndrews observed an intriguing gender split in the emotional responses it sparked.

She notes that in real life, people are generally supportive. However, she often finds herself browsing reviews on Letterboxd, even though she knows she shouldn’t. She observes that many female viewers praise the movie with high ratings, expressing their appreciation for its themes and discussions. On the other hand, some male or male-presenting viewers seem to scrutinize the film’s more independent aspects. While she acknowledges that they have a right to their opinions since her film is low-budget and not without flaws, she finds it intriguing to see how different people prioritize themes over technical execution. Each person has their own perspective, but it’s fascinating to observe the apparent gender divide in these responses.

Additionally, some men have squirmed even hearing about the concept of the film.

When I mention that the film is a rape revenge movie, men often respond immediately with ‘I don’t care for those kinds of films.’ McAndrews notes that it seems as though they’re trying to distance themselves from such content. She finds herself wondering why these movies are so difficult for them to watch. When she inquires about their discomfort, people tend to squirm a bit. McAndrews isn’t aiming to make anyone uncomfortable, but she wonders, ‘How do you think it feels for women or survivors watching this, or going through such experiences?’ She finds it amusing to observe men trying to assure her that they are not cruel individuals by saying things like, ‘I don’t enjoy watching women being raped.’

Fundamentally, McAndrews describes “Bystanders” as a representation of all aspects that make her who she is as an artist, scholar, and enthusiast of this particular genre.

She expresses her feelings by saying, “It’s moving to be a director, standing side by side with the women who have inadvertently inspired me. Additionally, having the opportunity to address various matters… I believe this experience helped unearth some lingering issues in a healing way. While therapy is beneficial, I feel this project also provided some closure for me on certain topics. My aim for this film was to create something that would resonate with people, making them feel understood and supported. Hearing that it has achieved this for some individuals fills me with pride. However, I’m even more thrilled about the prospect of more people watching this, particularly a younger audience, and witnessing their reactions to a film like this.

Watch the “Bystanders” trailer below.

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2025-02-06 00:17