Director: Alex Russell
Writer: Alex Russell
Stars: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Zack Fox
Synopsis: A retail employee infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom. As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
Most of us believe that we can see the bad things coming. That we have a sense of what is around the corner when we meet someone new. Sadly, this is almost never true. Bad actors are among us and some only must wait for an opportunity to ingratiate themselves. This must be exponentially true for the rich and famous. Stan culture being what it is, there is an inordinate amount of information just available for the taking. The progress we have made technologically has made it so easy for manipulators to worm their way in if a person is not careful. The obsession inherent in our popular culture has found acceptance through sheer numbers and the swarms shout down any criticism.
In Lurker, Matthew (Théodore Pellerin) is working at a trendy clothing shop when Oliver (Archie Madekwe) walks in. The camera leers as the public closes in on the burgeoning pop star. Matthew does not speak, but dives into action. As people rush to take pictures, nearly useless mementos of a brush with fame, Matthew plays a song on the store’s speakers. This gets the exact reaction he hoped for, real attention and affection. He pretends to not know who Oliver is, and this endears him to the star, who is constantly surrounded by worship and adoration. Madekwe and Pellerin have instant, albeit strange chemistry. Oliver is the perfect star, easy with a smile and a searching glance. Matthew is an enigma, having the ability to both blend and stand out, but specifically to Oliver, as someone just different enough to be worthy of attention.
In his first feature, Alex Russell manages to remain patient as this relationship ebbs and flows. We are allowed to see only what Matthew wants us to witness. Even when by himself, there is the sense that he is coiled, but he never attacks. The audience wants an easy answer. He is clearly a villain, but Russell does not give us enough background to draw our combined ire. Instead, we are left with a deep feeling of unease from the start of the film. It takes Oliver longer, as he is inundated with praise and connection from all sides. But Matthew, by his presence combined with mild acceptance from Oliver, begins to be seen as necessary by the entire entourage. His mild skill with a camera gives an excuse for Oliver to keep him around, along with his distance from the rest of the crew. There is a certain amount of discomfort from these others, but as would be expected, they eventually fall in line with Oliver’s needs.
There are a few moments in which Russell’s script falters and the film slows a bit too much. But this also gives Pellerin the opportunities to fill the screen and plot his return wordlessly. It is a special gift to make us feel this sense of unease with little actual proof. When these plots come to their fruition, our patience is rewarded in an upsetting turn of events. As we watch with Matthew, there is a deep lack of rooting interest, to the film’s benefit. Being unsure of what we want to happen enables the film to find its own path. Of course, there are many films about sociopathic upward mobility, but most of these films either have us approving this vendetta or actively hoping that the protagonist gets his or her comeuppance. Lurker, on the other hand, is not afraid to force us to feel the squirming sensation of not knowing.
Lurker forces us to face the darkest part of ourselves. We all engage in the internet, which allows a certain anonymity, along with a perceived closeness to the biggest stars on the planet. We might tell ourselves that there are steps that we would not take for that connection. But what if you were accepted for a brief moment into that focused embrace? Would you be able to simply do the right thing and be yourself? Or would you become what they wanted, simply to stay in that light. None of us are above obsession in the wrong situation. More importantly, none of us are beyond being obsessed over. There is a dangerous allure at play in Lurker that is likely to haunt viewers long after the lights come up in the theater.
