When writing The Bystanders, Director Gabriel Foster Prior and co-writer Jack Hughes set out to transplant everything they love about classic British television comedies and work it into a format suitable for a feature film. I am happy to say that The Bystanders accomplishes this excellently.
Starring stand-up comedian Seann Walsh, Scott Haran (Wizard vs. Aliens), and Marek Larwood (The Tool) this comedy sci-fi debut has won awards during its circuit on film festivals – and it’s not hard to see why.
The Bystanders is set in a world much like our own, except there’s an alternate dimension. This dimension is inhabited by The Bystanders – invisible immortals who each watch over their assigned human subject and intervene in their lives. Some Bystanders take this occupation seriously, others take it superficially, and the film really shines in the moments where the dichotomy of these attitudes is highlighted with empathetic humour from Gabriel and Jack.
Lester hosting the Q&A
Another interesting contrast that the film utilises is the way that the changes in perspective throughout the film (from Bystander to human) are signified by shots switching from black and white, to colour. Perhaps to some viewers, this may be startling at first, but after a few switches, it is barely noticeable and is a very effective way of silently communicating which dimension each part of the story is taking place. The smoothing of this transition – in my opinion – is aided by the artistically vibrant rotoscoping effects implemented throughout, which both writers lovingly drew themselves.
The humour in The Bystanders tiptoes that beautiful line between the surreal and the terrestrial reminiscent of Red Dwarf, and A Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy. Mixed with an excellent retro sci-fi score composed by Foz Foster which is robust with theremin and spring reverb, complimenting the film with nostalgic Doctor Who vibes. Comedy and sci-fi fans alike will appreciate the film’s wit, which shines a light on (and sometimes mirrors) life in the modern world, and ‘what ifs’ of the existence of intervention from fate.
The special screening with a Q&A (which I ended up hosting) took place at the Duke of York’s in Brighton on the 18th of October. If you’d like to see the film yourself, keep an eye out for when it reaches cinemas on the 3rd of November.
Find out more about the film here: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11619524/
