The place does the boundary between lust, obsession, fandom, and devotion lie? Alex Russell’s directorial debut “Lurker” explores the twisted nature of movie star in Los Angeles. The characteristic, which wowed on the 2025 Sundance Movie Pageant, stars Théodore Pellerin as Matthew, a socially-obsessed videographer who turns into entangled with a rising pop star, Oliver (Archie Madekwe).
Zack Fox, Havana Rose Liu, Wale Onayemi, Daniel Zolghadri and Sunny Suljic co-star. Pat Scola (“Pig,” “Sing Sing”) was the cinematographer.
Russell has been recognized for his writing and supervising producing work on TV collection “The Bear” and “Beef.” His debut “Lurker” turned one of the buzzed-about gross sales titles at Sundance; it was later acquired by MUBI.
“The characters on this film are archetypes,” Russell informed IndieWire earlier this yr. “I’ve seen each character on this film 10 instances over. Referring to Matthew is essential as a result of the film is subjective in that means, whereas numerous films about an obsessive individual, even like a ‘King of Comedy,’ it’s form of goal, and there’s a separation between the viewers and the character, and it’s somewhat extra like, ‘Oh, have a look at this loopy man that’s not me.’ In exhibiting the film to individuals, individuals are form of guiltily regarding him. On a really primary degree, individuals can relate to the concept of ‘if you wish to do something that you just weren’t born into,’ you must put your self on the market one way or the other.”
Russell continued, “To me, it was a really American story, an L.A. story, principally as a result of there may be the sense, in America, I believe however in all probability in all places within the West, that mainstream tradition celebrities [are] positioned or positioned as a type of deities, like gods. The factor that individuals aspire to or like to and look as much as and take down. … He [Matthew] enters that world utterly in awe after which he learns of the mechanism and will get actually disillusioned.”
The IndieWire overview applauded Russell’s directing, saying, “The film’s biggest feat is its consideration to the nuances of how these males use mocking or scorn to ascend a rung on their slim social ladder — and if ‘Lurker’ finally succumbs to sure style tropes and a handful of story bumps, it makes up for its limitations in perspicacity and the general power of its filmmaking.”
MUBI will launch “Lurker” in theaters August 22. Take a look at the trailer beneath.