Lurker
Matthew (Théodore Pellerin, "Never Rarely Sometimes Always," "Beau Is Afraid") is a clerk in an L.A. clothing store whose life is turned upside down one day when rising music star Oliver (Archie Madekwe, "Grand Turismo," "Saltburn") and his entourage wander into his shop. Matthew gets Oliver's attention over their mutual admiration for Nile Rodgers' 'My Love for You' and the fact that he doesn't recognize him, but when Oliver puts Matty on his guest list for his next show, Matty becomes a "Lurker."
Laura's Review: A-
It is human nature to be flattered by attention from an admired individual. When that individual happens to be famous, particularly in the entertainment industry, that attention has a ripple effect, the person standing within their glow now shedding a little bit of their own light to fans who haven't gotten as close to their idol. Writer/director Alex Russell (writer/producer of 'Beef' and 'The Bear') makes his feature debut with a subject he's observed first hand, taking it to unexpectedly fraught extremes and his well cast ensemble sells every minute of it. "Lurker" is a toxic portrait of the dual vampirism inherent in the celebrity/fan dynamic.
Those already in Oliver's circle aren't always too welcoming of newcomers, hanging onto their own place in the pecking order. This is immediately apparent by something like the hazing ritual Matty is given in the green room when he's ushered backstage at Oliver's show. He walks into a room where Oliver sits in a chair with a young woman while four guys slump on a couch, no one greeting him. Then Swett (Zack Fox, TV's 'Abbott Elementary') asks 'Why you standin' their with your pants on?' Unsure what to do, then questioned by Swett as to why he's smiling, Matty drops his pants to gales of laughter. When Swett gets serious and makes the demand again, Matty goes him one better, dropping his underwear and winning the room.
Standing in the audience, Matty seems mesmerized by Oliver's performance and Shai (Havana Rose Liu, "No Exit," "Bottoms"), the woman who's treated him kindly, takes note with a smile, advising him to 'make yourself useful if you want to stick around.' Oliver will ask him if he's got a camera and knows how to press record and the next day Matty returns to his house with his video camera, but faces much the same reception as the night before, Swett and Sebastian (Cam Hicks) allowing him into their videogame, but Noah (Daniel Zolghadri, "Funny Pages"), Oliver's 'documentarian' sitting at a computer console, ignoring him. Matty begins to wash dishes and clean the house, but when he spies Oliver outside riding bikes with another guy, he slips out and begins videotaping them. Oliver is delighted by the footage of him horsing around and the next thing Matty knows, Noah is demanding his video on a thumb drive. Their status will continue to shift when Noah forgets his backup batteries during a video shoot and Matty comes up with an innovative idea using his own amateur equipment.
What Russell does so well here is parallel Matty's rise within Oliver's circle with Jamie's (Sunny Suljic, "Mid90's"), the young fan who witnessed Matty's original invite from Oliver with jaw-dropped awe. After inviting the kid to a party at Oliver's so he can play the connected big shot, suddenly Matty's treating his young friend much the way Noah had treated him and we can begin to see that Oliver is well aware of how he is manipulating people to his own advantage. Matty's alarmed to learn that Jamie's been invited to a trip to London and his treatment of his friend will be ricocheted right back at him. And while Russell just about repeats that music video scene during an album cover shoot there, he'll surprise us with a third act twist that changes the power dynamic once more.
Pellerin traverses quite an arc, the humble retail clerk who enjoys the company of his grandmother (Myra Turley, "Lady Bird") suddenly caught up in the power of fame, Oliver's attentions feeding his ego and ambition until he becomes maniacal (the latter part of his performance brought to mind Billy Mumy in the 'It's a Good Life' Twilight Zone episode). Madekwe's Oliver is on more of an even keel, but his subtle performance suggests a real need for connection amidst his hangers on, tainted by his recognition of his sway over them (Madekwe also does his own singing in the film). Rose Liu is almost like Russell's stand-in here, the realist who has seen this all before. Suljic takes on the mantle of Matty's mini-me, his behavior reflecting Pelelrin's. Fox is quite good as that guy who's always around with no known purpose.
Cinematographer Pat Scola ("Pig," "Sing Sing") gives us the perspectives of the cinematographers and photographers capturing Oliver while creating an intimate portrait of an entourage. Kenny Beats' score changes dramatically throughout, from heavy percussion to shimmering pop, underlining the film's emotional beats. "Lurker" is a sure-footed debut from a filmmaker illustrating the psychology of a specific group dynamic with the build of a suspenseful thriller.
Robin's Review: B
Mubi releases "Lurker" in select theaters on 8/22/25. Click here for theaters and play dates.
