LURKER is a new psychological thriller that you do not want to miss out on. It has an eerie, almost sinister, vibe that is always lurking. Also, it has an ending as unpredictable as it is perfect. Read our full Lurker (2025) movie review here!
LURKER is a psychological thriller about fame, social media, and the natural desire to belong. Not to be confused with fitting in, necessarily, but simply finding “your people”. Of course, in the age of viral memes, it can sometimes be a very fleeting fame that leaves you empty.
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Am I making sense yet? Maybe not, but once you’ve watched this indie genre gem (and you really ought to), it will make perfect sense. As I was watching this, I kept thinking it could only end very badly. And it does. However, it also doesn’t… and in a way I did not see coming. I loved that!
Continue reading our Lurker (2025) movie review below. Find it on MUBI now.
A different kind of stalker story
Lurker is essentially the story about a twenty-something L.A. retail clerk, Matthew (Théodore Pellerin), who sees a chance to hitch his proverbial wagon to that of rising pop star Oliver (Saltburn‘s Archie Madekwe), and jumps at it.
Matthew is essentially a loner who hasn’t found “his people” yet. This is certainly one reason why he jumps at this opportunity. You could call him a Catfish or a stalker, but then you’d have to label anyone going on a first date the same way.
Of course, getting your foot in the door is one thing. And getting invited to all the fun and being seen on social media with a pop star is a shortcut to immediate fame these days. However, staying there is another thing entirely.
When Oliver shines his spotlight of affection on someone, it has an immediate effect. Whether emotionally for the object of his attention or in the form of sudden social media fame.
Unfortunately, this also means everyone is vying to take over your place. And Oliver is always ready for new adoring people to join his entourage. That’s why Matthew is eerily quick to take extreme measures to make sure he stays at the very center of Oliver’s life and entourage.
Archie Madekwe and Théodore Pellerin sell it!
Admittedly, calling Lurker a “stalker story” is grossly oversimplifying the plot. Then again, I could call it a new take on the Entourage posse syndrome or say that it’s about an alternative starf*cker story, but neither of those would do the trick either.
Lurker is very much its own kind of beast, and I loved it.
The entire cast of this movie works hard and delivers strong character portrayals. Yes, even for those with limited screen time, every single one has a purpose and plays into the overall plot development.
Still, Lurker ultimately fails or succeeds based on how well the two main characters work. Fortunately, we have Théodore Pellerin (There’s Someone Inside Your House) as Matthew and Archie Madekwe (Midsommar, Saltburn) as Oliver.
With those two taking center stage, we are in the best hands, and that’s why this movie works so well. The rest of the cast and characters are what make it all come together in an organic and eerily believable way.
Not least thanks to those in Oliver’s entourage, including characters played by Havana Rose Liu (Afraid, No Exit), Zack Fox (Abbott Elementary), Daniel Zolghadri (Tales from the Loop, Y2K), and Sunny Suljic (mid90s, The Killing of a Sacred Deer).
Watch Lurker on MUBI now!
Written & Directed by Alex Russell (The Bear, Beef), Lurker was a movie I recognized had immense qualities early on. However, I never expected to love it this much.
I mean, from seeing the poster, which reminded me of Barbarian (for obvious reasons), I was ready for something dark. What Lurker ultimately offers is more than just a dark and sinister story.
It’s an honest look at how online fixation can result in real-life consequences that are impossible to predict. The line between friend and fan can be confusing when everyone seeks validation from anyone. Something social media offers, but can it be trusted?
That’s why Lurker is also a look at the dangers of surrounding yourself with “yes people” if you want to improve. Sure, being adored is nice, but so is having people who are honest. Those two can only co-exist in a society (or a friendship) if you accept and nurture constructive criticism.
The runtime of Lurker is 100 minutes, and I was virtually spellbound for every second of it.
WATCH LURKER IF YOU ENJOYED…
Until now, Lurker has been playing at various film festivals worldwide. From Sundance in the US to film festivals in Berlin, Istanbul, Melbourne, and Fantasia in Canada. It’s been getting overwhelmingly positive reviews, and I can easily see why.
Also, MUBI is releasing this in US theaters now, and they gave us The Substance.
Enough said, really!
Lurker is the kind of movie that stays with you for a myriad of reasons. Some scary, some sad, and a few strangely inspiring and positive. I did not see that coming. Especially the last part. Also, I want the soundtrack to Lurker.
Truly, everything in this movie came together wonderfully, and with this as a feature film debut, I cannot wait to see what Alex Russell does next. I just know I will definitely be watching it!
LURKER is streaming on MUBI from October 10, 2025.
Details
Written & Directed by: Alex Russell
Starring: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Sunny Suljic, Havana Rose Liu, Zack Fox, Daniel Zolghadri
Plot
When a twenty-something retail clerk encounters a rising pop star, he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But as the line between friend and fan blurs beyond recognition, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
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