Lurker takes place in a sun-drenched Los Angeles where the veil between no ones and someones is especially thin. Matthew, a retail worker with boyish lankiness, engineers his way into the orbit of rising pop star Oliver by feigning ignorance and inserting himself into Oliver's circle. Pellerin's portrayal emphasizes Matthew's off-putting awkwardness, intense gaze, and calculated social maneuvering. The film examines social climbing, the interdependent nature of fandom and fame, and the power dynamics within celebrity entourages as Matthew installs himself in Oliver's rented mansion amid skeptical companions. The film shares DNA with contemporary social-climbing thrillers while staking its own claim through its focus on fandom's role in manufacturing celebrity.
As Matthew, a retail drone who manages to clamber his way into the inner circle of a rising pop star named Oliver (Archie Madekwe), Pellerin leans forcefully into the latter. Matthew is all prominent Adam's apple and assessing eyes, radiating intensity even when trying to act casual, grinning self-effacingly in an attempt to smooth over the way he's forever half a beat behind.
Lurker, which takes place in a sun-drenched Los Angeles where the veil between no ones and someones is especially thin, is the impishly uncomfortable directorial debut from Alex Russell, a writer on The Bear and Beef. It's a film that shares DNA with other contemporary social-climbing thrillers Saltburn or Ingrid Goes West, but it ends up having more interesting things on its mind about the interdependent nature of fandom and fame.
Collection
[
|
...
]