In films made about celebrities befriending normal people, we’ve seen the dynamic play out romantically or tragically in the end. In this respect, Lurker is totally unpredictable. There are moments where the thriller seems to lead to one or the other, in part due to how ambiguous Oliver and Matthew’s relationship started, straddling the line between glorified groupie, collaborative creators, and actual friends. It’s also in part due to the performances of Théodore Pellerin and Archie Madekwe, which lends some believability towards the more extreme scenes later on. It’s actually funny as to how their dynamic ends up becoming, though for the sake of spoilers, all we will say is that Lurker truly captures how uniquely obsessive a parasocial relationship can be.
"Lurker is an excellent showcase for the talents of Théodore Pellerin and an intriguing first step as a feature filmmaker for Alex Russell."
— Hannah Strong
"It may be a sad reflection of an existence, but what Lurker wryly suggests is that Oliver himself couldn’t exist without people like Matthew around him, believing in his importance, proving themselves willing to say or do anything to stay nearby."
— Alison Willmore
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.
Spirit Awards
4 nominations
