Movies: Lurker (2025) by Alex Russell: Friendship, Obsession, and the Price of Closeness
- dailyentertainment95
- Aug 29
- 4 min read
A Dangerous Bond in the Spotlight
Lurker tells the story of Matthew, a lonely retail clerk in Los Angeles who unexpectedly gains access to the world of Oliver, a rising British pop star on the verge of breaking big. When Matthew begins filming Oliver as part of his inner circle, what appears to be an innocent opportunity quickly turns into something darker. Their interactions blur the lines between friendship, admiration, and control. What starts as proximity fueled by admiration grows into a manipulative attachment where Matthew slowly pushes himself deeper into Oliver’s life. The story unfolds with an unsettling calm, showing how obsession thrives in the small, unnoticed details of everyday intimacy. The film is not about jump scares or traditional thriller devices—it builds its tension through human closeness, uncomfortable silences, and the shifting power between two men caught in a dangerous dance of desire and dependency.
Why to Recommend This Movie
A mirror to our times: More than just a thriller, it examines parasocial relationships and how fandom in the social media era can blur into obsession. The story feels timely and uncomfortably real.
Atmospheric and immersive: Filmed in grainy 16mm with a focus on small social settings, the atmosphere draws you in and makes the world of underground music, clout, and nightlife feel authentic.
Psychological punch: The suspense does not come from spectacle but from quiet, unnerving moments where boundaries are crossed slowly and deliberately.
Standout performances: Théodore Pellerin as Matthew and Archie Madekwe as Oliver create a tense, unpredictable dynamic that feels raw and electric, keeping viewers unsettled.
Where to watch: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0OC1LCY03EQ2CRYQRUEN7LJ51H/ref=dvm_src_ret_ca_xx_s (Canada)
Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13651462/
What is the Trend Followed? — Thrillers of Parasocial Intimacy
Lurker taps into a cultural and cinematic trend of exploring fandom, identity, and blurred relationships between fans and public figures. It stands out as part of a wave of thrillers that reflect digital-age anxieties.
Obsession in close-up: Shifts the thriller lens from physical stalking to emotional infiltration.
Empathy for the obsessed: Avoids cartoonish villains, instead making Matthew disturbingly relatable.
Social realism with unease: Builds fear through realism—grainy visuals, quiet rooms, tense conversations.
Fandom as danger and desire: Shows how intimacy with fame can be both seductive and destructive.
Director’s Vision — Authentic Unease on Screen
Grounded psychology: Alex Russell brings lessons from The Bear and Beef, making characters feel sharply drawn and emotionally complex.
Observing social hierarchies: Inspired by pandemic-era reflections on clout and access, Russell shows how people insert themselves into others’ lives.
Collaborative authenticity: The cast shaped the world, ensuring Oliver’s inner circle feels real and unforced.
Naturalistic aesthetic: Grainy 16mm film and raw dialogue create intimacy while also heightening discomfort.
Themes — Connection, Power, and Belonging
Obsession disguised as friendship: Matthew’s devotion grows subtly until it crosses into manipulation.
Blurring of intimacy and control: The film asks where friendship ends and exploitation begins.
Fame’s fragile pedestal: Both Matthew and Oliver rely on attention, making their bond parasitic and unstable.
The search for identity: Matthew’s need to belong becomes central, showing the lengths people go to escape isolation.
Key Success Factors — Resonance, Realism, and Raw Performances
Cultural relevance: It reflects today’s anxieties about fame, fandom, and validation.
Unique visual style: 16mm cinematography enhances realism and gives the film a documentary-like unease.
Magnetic performances: Pellerin and Madekwe embody their characters’ shifting dynamic with depth and unpredictability.
Slow-burn suspense: Its realism and tension make it memorable and different from formula thrillers.
Awards & Nominations — Festival Spotlight
Lurker premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it was praised for its originality and tense storytelling. It was also showcased at the Berlinale Special Gala, competing for the Teddy Award. Distribution by Mubi in North America and Focus Features internationally highlights its strong critical and cultural appeal.
Critics Reception — A Thriller That Feels Too Real
Variety praised its sharp insight into the dynamics of fame and power in personal relationships.
RogerEbert.com described it as a riveting psychological thriller, comparing its unnerving intensity to Nightcrawler.
Rotten Tomatoes reflects very high approval, with critics commending its relevance and tension.
Los Angeles Times noted its frightening authenticity in portraying obsessive fandom and blurred male intimacy.
Overall: Critics agree that Lurker is a timely, unsettling, and powerfully acted thriller that succeeds by holding a mirror to modern social anxieties.
Reviews — Disturbing, Sharp, and Relevant
The Daily Beast called it a modern horror about parasocial relationships, disturbing because of its plausibility.
Teen Vogue focused on the film’s exploration of toxic stan culture, highlighting its resonance with younger audiences.
AP News praised Alex Russell’s precision in storytelling and his background in character-driven dramas.
The Washington Post described it as a thriller that feels “too real,” underlining its social and cultural relevance.
Summary: Reviews converge on the idea that the film is uncomfortable but necessary, forcing viewers to question how closeness and obsession are entangled in the digital age.
Release date on streaming — Mubi Premiere
The film will stream on Mubi in North America shortly after its theatrical release, ensuring broad access for audiences interested in psychological dramas.
Theatrical Release — Festival Launch to Limited Release
Lurker had its world premiere at Sundance 2025, followed by a European debut at Berlinale. It is set for a limited theatrical release before its streaming rollout, aligning with the release pattern of many acclaimed indie thrillers.
Movie Trend — Parasocial Psychological Thrillers
The film belongs to the trend of intimate thrillers about obsession, reflecting how digital culture blurs lines between admiration and intrusion. It turns the idea of fandom into a suspenseful and unsettling emotional landscape.
Social Trend — Obsession in the Social Media Era
Lurker mirrors today’s social anxieties about digital closeness, celebrity worship, and the dangers of living through someone else’s validation. It is part of a cultural moment where films explore how our hunger for belonging can mutate into something darker.
Final Verdict — A Timely and Unsettling Portrait of Obsession
Lurker is not just a psychological thriller—it is a mirror of our cultural moment. It shows how admiration, when pushed too far, can turn into control and danger. With standout performances, sharp direction, and themes that feel urgent in the digital age, Alex Russell has crafted one of the most relevant and provocative thrillers of 2025.
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