Lurker

I don’t think it’s a secret that most people want to be famous—or at least enjoy the perks of fame. In the past, that was much harder to achieve; you had to be discovered and actually possess some sort of talent in order for it to happen. Nowadays, social media has erased that requirement. All you need is the camera on your phone, and if you say or do something outrageous, fame is suddenly at your fingertips. The problem is, most people aren’t equipped to handle fame—or the people that come with it—and that can turn bad quickly.

Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) lives a pretty normal, if boring life, working in a small but trendy boutique. Every day feels the same, but today is about to change his life forever. The reason? Oliver (Archie Madekwe) walks into the store. Matthew puts on a song that immediately grabs Oliver’s attention—it happens to be one of his favorites. That moment of connection leads Oliver to invite Matthew to his show that night, impressed by his taste.

At the venue, Matthew meets the rest of Oliver’s crew. After some playful banter, Shai (Havana Rose Liu) slips him a backstage pass and shows him the perfect spot to watch the show. Before long, Matthew is invited to the afterparty at Oliver’s house, where he’s asked to help film behind-the-scenes footage for a documentary. But things aren’t as rosy as they seem. Matthew has a dark side, and he doesn’t take kindly to anyone else stealing Oliver’s attention. It doesn’t take long before things spiral—Matthew has tasted fame, and like so many before him, the thought of living without it drives him to dangerous extremes.

Written and directed by Alex Russell, Lurker is unpredictable, stylish, and often uncomfortably cringe—a film that will resonate with all the starfuckers out there. Its tone is best described as paranoia, enhanced by moments where the story lingers just a bit too long, heightening the unease as events unfold. But it’s not just about Matthew’s fixation with Oliver—it’s also about Oliver’s ambition to become the “biggest pop star” in the world. By the end, you realize their goals may not be so different after all.

Ultimately, Lurker is about the razor-thin line between being exploited and being the exploiter. It’s a modern story that forces you to ask yourself what you would do if you were in either Oliver’s or Matthew’s shoes. The script is strong, but what truly makes Lurker work is the performances. Pellerin is both fascinating and disturbing, while Madekwe delivers a charismatic and convincing turn as a pop star, peeling back layers to show how fame often hides deep insecurities and fears. Together, their performances are magnetic—you can’t take your eyes off of them.

Visually, Lurker is raw and unscripted in style, which only adds to its unsettling atmosphere. As debuts go, Russell has delivered something remarkable: a chilling, cringe-inducing thriller that lingers with you long after the credits roll. For all its uncomfortable moments, Lurker is ultimately a piece of deeply satisfying cinema.