There’s something about Archie Madekwe’s persona that makes Lurker work. Strangely tall, with a distinctively expressive face and an unmistakable voice, the British actor has a way of captivating even in more generic roles, like his big leading turn in Gran Turismo. Here, he plays Oliver, an emerging music artist who still commands a fanbase despite not being particularly original or having put out strong material in a while. But the film isn’t about him, it’s about Matthew (Théodore Pellerin), a retail employee and devoted fan who seizes the opportunity to meet Oliver when the singer visits his store. Through a mix of well-placed lies and ego-stroking, Matthew ingratiates himself into Oliver’s circle, and it doesn’t take long for things to get out of hand.
The film explores themes of fame, obsession, success, and talent, but always through Matthew’s perspective. He’s a manipulative presence, latching onto those around him to maintain his newfound proximity to Oliver (and yes, his interest in the singer isn’t purely platonic). He may start as a passive observer but he “de-lurks” quickly, fully inserting himself into Oliver’s life and reaping all the benefits.
There are clear inspirations from films like Saltburn and Nightcrawler, and at times, it flirts with Phantom Thread-style psychological mind games but doesn’t fully commit to that level of complexity. The script often spells out its themes too directly and takes shortcuts to get there, introducing subplots only to abandon them, most notably anything involving Matthew’s conveniently clueless friend. A particular bedroom wrestling scene suggests that the director has specific ideas he wants to convey, but the execution often feels clumsy. Additionally, while the film repeatedly insists on Oliver’s fame, the lack of older industry figures, his manager looks far too young, makes that aspect feel somewhat unconvincing.
But if you can look past the script’s rough edges and don’t expect a deep dive into fame, Lurker is still an undeniably entertaining ride. Pellerin fully sells Matthew’s odd but calculated behavior, while Madekwe subtly conveys that Oliver is always performing, wanting attention. The supporting cast is excellent, Zack Fox, in particular, is hilarious, and every side character gets at least one great moment. The humor lands, the escalation of events is fun to watch, and the film never overstays its welcome.
In the end, Lurker pulls you in with ease, funny, well-performed, and smart enough to know exactly what it is. Just don’t expect it to say anything new about celebrity culture. It’s a stylish, straightforward diversion, and sometimes, that’s enough.
- 1. Sinners
- 2. Shepherds (Bergers)
- 3. The Ballad of Wallis Island
- 4. Kiss of the Spider Woman
- 5. One of Them Days
- 24. Lurker
- Where to watch
Mubi- Where to watch
- Rent or buy at Apple TV Store, Amazon Video
Play trailer
- Original title
- Lurker
- Director
- Alex Russell
- Cast
- Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Havana Rose Liu, Sunny Suljic, Daniel Zolghadri, Zack Fox, Cam Hicks, Chaize Macklin
- Rated
- 14A
- Screenwriter
- Alex Russell
- Composer
- Kenny Beats
- Cinematography
- Pat Scola, Linda Wu
- Editor
- David Kashevaroff
- Country
- Language
- English
- Box office
- 455555