Lurker

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2:18

Lurker

R

Aug 2025

1h 40m

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

94 Reviews

84%

Popcornmeter

50+ Verified Ratings

A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.

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Critics Consensus

Devilishly examining the intersection of fame and obsession to thrilling effect, Alex Russell's directorial debut delivers on all fronts.

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Hannah Strong

Little White Lies

Lurker is an excellent showcase for the talents of Théodore Pellerin and an intriguing first step as a feature filmmaker for Alex Russell.

Sep 24, 2025

Full Review

Ty Burr

Washington Post

The American Dream of being seen curdled into a nightmarish hall of mirrors.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 5, 2025

Full Review

Coleman Spilde

Salon.com

Lurker feels less like a narrative thriller and more like a chilling, genuine document of how easy it’s become to manipulate those around us in a hyper-digital world, where the mere proximity to celebrity can be as powerful as celebrity itself.

Aug 29, 2025

Full Review

Adam Sweeting

The Arts Desk

It’s an intriguing premise, and Lurker makes some shrewd points about the imbalance between stars and star-f******, though it starts to run out of gas as the story develops.

Oct 15, 2025

Full Review

Liselotte Vanophem

Geek Vibes Nation

a masterclass in social psychology and a slow-burning depiction of obsession, deception, fame, and fandom all in one.

Rated: 8.5/10

Oct 9, 2025

Full Review

Mary Beth McAndrews

Dread Central

Alex Russell’s feature film debut, Lurker, is a terrifying portrait of obsession in the digital age, bolstered by an incredible cast and deeply unsettling script.

Rated: 5/5

Oct 3, 2025

Full Review

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Ben W

Very good. Love the commentary on groupies and transactional relationships.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

John L

Although compared to Saltbourne, it doesn't come close. Disjointed story line and character development.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/17/25

Full Review

Marvin

An uncomfortable but also a clever and thrilling experience

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

Full Review

Juandi

This film is an interesting ride. It does a good job at making you feel you’re experiencing the events in real time. I do feel there were several unanswered questions & missed opportunities. Overall, the story lacked & didn’t fully land for me.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/12/25

Full Review

Film Buff

Tense, clever, and well-paced. A fantastic thriller!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/11/25

Full Review

Just Here for the Popcorn

It was ok. Popcorn review: Dry. But the Coke Zero had some bang to it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/10/25

Full Review

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Alex Russell

Director

Théodore Pellerin

Matthew

Archie Madekwe

Oliver

Sunny Suljic

Jamie

Cam Hicks

Sebastian

Chaize Macklin

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Lurker: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

A screw-turning psychological thriller made for the moment, LURKER is the razor-sharp directorial debut from The Bear and Beef writer-producer Alex Russell. When twenty-something Los Angeles retail clerk and loner Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) encounters rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe), he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But staying there isn't easy. With an entire entourage (Bottoms' Havana Rose Liu, Abbott Elementary's Zack Fox, Y2K's Daniel Zolghadri, mid90s' Sunny Suljic) vying for attention, Matthew must prove himself to Oliver as more than just a follower. As their bond grows strained and mainstream fame appears within reach, access and proximity become a matter of life and death. Online fixation meets reality in this parasocial, paranoid cat-and-mouse film driven by star-making performances. With an incisive view to contemporary culture and a brilliant score from Kenny Beats (known for his work with Vince Staples), LURKER presents an exhilarating take on the music industry, the blurred line between friend and fan, and our universal search for validation.

Director: Alex Russell
Producer: Alex Orlovsky, Duncan Montgomery, Galen Core, Charlie McDowell, Archie Madekwe, Olmo Schnabel, Marc Marrie, Francesco Melzi d'Eril, Jack Selby
Screenwriter: Alex Russell
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: Va Bene Productions, MeMo Films, Case Study Films, High Frequency Entertainment, Arts and Sciences Department
Rating: R (Language Throughout|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 22, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 10, 2025
Box Office (Gross USA): $631.6K
Runtime: 1h 40m

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