Everyone wants a piece of fame. But Lurker wants to ask what the price may be.
Lurker tells the story of Matthew (Theodore Pellerin), a twenty-something retail clerk whose life is upended in a moment when he meets Oliver (Archie Madekwe), a rising pop star who gives him the chance to join the in-crowd. At first, Matthew is somewhat of an outsider to Oliver and his crew. However, as he begins to prove his value to Oliver both personally and professionally, Matthew soon finds himself an essential part of the team. But fame can be fleeting and, as his position in the group is threatened, Matthew will do whatever it takes to remain on the inner circle of Oliver’s fame.
Directed by Alex Russell, Lurker is a chilling deconstruction of modern fame. Gripping and extremely dark, Russell uses the world of modern ‘influencers’ as an example of the ways that public recognition can take possession of our souls, leading us down the path to our own destruction in the process.
Admittedly, the driving force within the film remains Pellerin. After his devastatingly broken performance in 2023’s Solo, Pellerin has shown that he’s not afraid to dance with his own darkness and that inner fury is on full display here. Pellerin plays Matthew with a heightened brokenness that fuels his actions. Looking for genuine relationships, Matthew is anything but authentic. Whether he’s lying about his musical tase or even pulling down his pants on command, Matthew will do whatever it takes to survive in this world. But that lack of self-worth often causes him to make decisions that are, at the very least, questionable in nature. Often posing as a chameleon, he’s willing to change his shape in order to accomplish his goals, regardless of who’s put at risk.
At the same time, Pellerin’s quiet sadness keeps his character from being entirely detestable. While we often hate his actions, we cannot help but also feel empathy for the shattered soul within him. It’s a delicate balance between pathologies yet Pellerin is able to walk the line effectively.
And, like Matthew, Lurker is the sort of film that doesn’t mess around. As Matthew steps more deeply into the shadows, the film does everything it can to highlight the problematic nature of fame (or at least the lust of it). Every character in this film seems to have their eyes on the potential power that stems from success. And each one fears losing it once it has been attained. Having been ignored his entire life, Matthew cannot let go of his accelerated fame for fear that he will no longer matter to anyone. Oliver has attained the success he yearns for but every counterpunch by Matthew potentially threatens to derail his life. Even Oliver’s ‘crew’ seem to be constantly looking over their shoulders out of concern that their place isn’t ‘secure’.
In essence, Lurker believes that cultural relevancy is currency. And the lack thereof is the worst kind of poverty.
Interestingly though, that’s what keeps Lurker feeling so honest. Despite the wild (and increasingly devastating) antics of its characters, it taps into the loneliness of its characters in such a way that keeps them feeling like real people. The general public thinks that they know them based on their skills on the mic or with a camera. But Lurker insists that the strength that they profess to their followers is really empty. Each one of these players in the game of fame use their notoriety as a way to cover up their massive insecurities, making them more human than their image suggests.
Compelling and controversial, Russell’s fiendish tale of fame truly is a wild ride. We’re not meant to love these characters. Instead, we’re left to feel for them as they attempt to work harder to keep their images intact. But it’s also that same frailty that makes them relatable, even if we wish that they weren’t.
Lurker is available in theatres on Friday, August 29th, 2025.
