Lurker

Lurker is a sharp and compelling psychological drama about ambition, power, and the fragile line between admiration and intrusion. Character development is one of the film's strongest qualities, even though Oliver's music is so bad that it almost makes sense for Matthew to not recognize his sudden artistic superiority, or to stalk him out of fear that he might ruin his career and end the partnership that has worked for a lifetime. And then things get incredibly awkward, but it works.

The film builds its tension slowly, focusing on small, uncomfortable interactions that reveal insecurity, longing, ego, and the hunger to matter. Théodore Pellerin is fantastic as the anxious and meticulously polite Matthew, while Archie Madekwe leans into Oliver's mix of charm, detachment, and creative volatility. Their dynamic is the core of the film: a messy blend of friendship, dependency, and performance, where every gesture feels like it could tip into affection or collapse into violence.

Beyond the psychological tension, it also explores work dynamics, artistic hierarchy, obsession, and the strange, blurry forms of love that grow in imbalanced relationships. It shows how fame can be intoxicating and how creative partnerships can become traps when one feeds off the other's validation. The film's final musical moment is easily Oliver's best song, but it's built on a relationship with no clear boundaries: a reminder that "greatness" comes from collective contribution, dealing with criticism and sometimes accepting that other people's vision can be better than yours, even when it hurts. Adoration feeds and destroys.

Not every narrative choice lands, and it feels like we've already seen this dynamics happen in other films, but it certainly reaches a more realistic approach in this one. Lurker is smart, unsettling in the right ways, and far more layered than its premise suggests.

The film is solid. Beautiful shots of Los Angeles, clean script that doesn't over explain and creates an intriguing narrative without relying heavily on dialogue. The actors were all fantastic and it has a rawness to it. The character development takes its time and the lead is fleshed out well. There was a lot of tension in this film and it was unpredictable which made for a strong viewing. I loved it. However, this is a film that requires patience and some people might find sitting through it laborious. The music was great! I'm not sure if it's more than a one time watch but well worth seeing!

We were not ready for this.

Walking out of 'Lurker', hubby and I turned to each other in that stunned, slightly giddy way you do when a film completely floors you. We were blown away. Like - how is this a debut?

Directed by Alex Russell (a producer on 'The Bear' and 'Beef'), 'Lurker' is slick, unsettling, and deeply absorbing. It starts with a simple premise: Matthew (Théodore Pellerin), a lonely retail worker in LA, slowly inserts himself into the life of rising music star Oliver (Archie Madekwe), but what unfolds is a razor-wire dance of admiration, control, and obsession. You think you know where it's going - and then it shifts. And shifts again.

There's definitely DNA from 'Saltburn' in there - rich people behaving badly, blurred power lines - but this felt more grounded. Sadder, even. And if you're a fan of the emotional claustrophobia of 'The Bear', you'll feel right at home.

The performances are knockout. Pellerin is magnetic - equal parts fragile and unhinged - and Madekwe walks that fine line between charisma and detachment perfectly. The film sits in discomfort without ever overplaying it. Every beat feels intentional.

Lurker is a character study, a cautionary tale, and a coming-of-obsession wrapped in one. I haven't been able to shake it since.

Highly, highly recommend catching this one if you're into character-driven psychological drama that actually has something to say.

I really liked Lurker, starring Theodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe. Pellerin gives a great performance. I'll give it a strong seven, almost an eight. The first two acts are excellent, but the third act and ending aren't as strong and go off the rails a bit. It still has good moments in the third act, but I felt the movie should have been about 15 minutes shorter.

The film has great suspense and makes you think about celebrity culture and why people crave fame. The movie makes you feel uncomfortable, which is a credit to its execution. I felt icky throughout, based on what was happening.

Overall, I appreciate its originality and definitely recommend it.

Is "Lurker" the cringiest movie of 2025? It's gotta be a contender.

We've seen similar stories play out a million times before, but due to an energetic style and terrific performances, this version manages to feel fresh. And there's a cynical message in the film's ending that sets it apart from other movies like it, and feels very much of the moment in our cultural climate. That message being: bad behavior is often rewarded.

Grade: A.