Movies & TV / Reviews
Fantasia 2025: Lurker Review
Directed by: Alex Russell
Written by: Alex Russell
Starring:
Théodore Pellerin – Matthew
Archie Madekwe – Oliver
Zack Fox – Swett
Havana Rose Liu – Shai
Daniel Zolghadri – Noah
Sunny Suljic – Jamie
Running Time: 100 minutes
Rated R for language throughout and some sexual content.
The space between artists and their fans has never seemed smaller than it is now. Access to celebrities through social media (among other avenues) has led to the insertion of words like “parasocial” into the public consciousness in ways not seen before. It’s the latest permutation of the double-edged sword of fame, a twist for the ages-old tale of obsessed fans that – while not new by any stretch – seems like it’s relevant now than ever.
Alex Russell’s Lurker deftly explores the nature of those sorts of relationships in a slick character study-based thriller format. The film, which was screened at Fantasia ahead of its release by MUBI later this month, finds its edge in the toxic intersection between fandom and obsession with captivating effect.
As the film opens, Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) is a retail clerk working at a trendy LA fashion boutique. When rising pop star Oliver (Archie Madekwe) pops into the store, Matthew manages to impress him with his musical taste, which scores him a backstage invite to Oliver’s concert.
It becomes very clear that Matthew is out of his depth among Oliver’s entourage, who give him a mocking reception. But he manages to tag along back to Oliver’s home in the Hills and is able to impress the pop star enough to get asked to work on a documentary. It isn’t long before Matthew has gone from taking out the group’s trash to helping with music video shoots, with Oliver even calling him his best friend at one point.
As Matthew further insinuates himself into Oliver’s life, it becomes clear that he’s not just the awkward outsider that we first perceive him to be. But when things start to go awry and Matthew starts to find himself shut out, he starts to take steps to hold onto the small bit of power and celebrity he’s obtained – steps that are dangerous not only for him, but for Oliver and those in his orbit.
Lurker is the feature directorial debut of Russell, known for his work as a writer and producer on Beef and The Bear. It’s an incredibly assured film for someone behind the camera for the first time; Russell’s lens captures a subculture of fame that feels as real and authentic as it is uncomfortable. His script touches on ground that we’ve seen before in films like Saltburn (also starring Madekwe) and even elements of Black Swan, mixed with a dash of the obsession thrillers that were commonplace in the 1990s.
The end result is a potent mix of themes, given a visual flair that unfolds like (appropriately enough) an indie pop song. It’s not a one-sided affair; Russell explores the toxicity not just in Matthew’s obsessed fandom, but in Oliver’s social circle of hangers-on and Oliver’s own narcissism. It amounts to a double character study of what it means to find the recognition you so desperately crave, and how far one might go to hold onto it when it all starts to slip away.
It helps that Russell has a wonderful cast, led by Pellerin and Madekwe’s incisive performances. Pellerin allows us to see multiple sides of Matthew so we feel for him as much as we’re repulsed by him. It would be too easy to make Matthew just a pathetic loser, but Pellerin allows us to see the human underneath the insecurities and manipulative drive. And Madekwe gives us a real look at Oliver’s pathos, his desire for and fear of a close relationship as he alternately pulls Matthew in and pushes him away.
Like most thrillers, Lurker amps things up in the final act as all the fraying edges start to fall apart for our characters. But impressively, Russell doesn’t lose focus on the characters when it’s time for the plot to take center stage. Matthew and Oliver continue to drive the story forward to an intense conclusion that is as intentionally messy as it is effective. It’s as uncomfortable as the 90 minutes that preceded it, putting a capper on a compelling story about the dark side of fandoms and fame that stick in the brain well after the credits roll.
The Fantasia International Film Festival takes place in Montreal from July 16th through August 3rd. Lurker releases in theaters on August 22nd.