Speaker 1: Welcome back to real reviews. Today we're taking a look
Speaker 1: at Lurker, now in theaters. It's the feature directorial debut
Speaker 1: of Alex Russell, who delivers a tense, stylish, and unsettling
Speaker 1: psychological drama about fame, obsession, and the dangerous allure of
Speaker 1: proximity to celebrity. Fame is a currency, and in Lurker,
Speaker 1: it's one that's covet, it bartered, and ultimately devours those
Speaker 1: who chase it too closely. At the center of the
Speaker 1: store ory is Matthew, played by Theodor Pellerin, a lonely
Speaker 1: retail worker whose fascination with the glittering whorl of stardom
Speaker 1: takes a chilling turn after a chance encounter with rising
Speaker 1: pop star Oliver portrayed by Archie medek Way. Matthew gradually
Speaker 1: inserts himself into Oliver's life, first as a fan, then
Speaker 1: as a friend, and finally something more insidious. Russell's direction
Speaker 1: is deliberate and patient, letting the tension simmer before it
Speaker 1: boils over. The film doesn't resort to cheap thrills or melodrama,
Speaker 1: but instead paints a slow, disturbing portrait of obsession in
Speaker 1: the age of Instagram and curated authenticity. What begins as
Speaker 1: admiration spirals into manipulation, jealousy, and a frightening ratire of boundaries.
Speaker 1: Peleran is mesmerizing, giving Matthew equal parts vulnerability and menace.
Speaker 1: Never a cartoon villain, but disturbingly real. Medek Way continue
Speaker 1: use his rise, making Oliver more than a shallow celebrity.
Speaker 1: There's depth to his insecurity and kindness, which makes the
Speaker 1: growing sense of danger around him even more tragic. Supporting
Speaker 1: turns from Zach Fox, Havana, Rose Lou and Daniel del
Speaker 1: Gidrey flesh out Oliver's chaotic, influencer filled world where no
Speaker 1: one really knows whom they can trust. Visually, the film
Speaker 1: has a hypnotic pull. The cinematography captures la nightlife, sterile losts,
Speaker 1: and backstage chaos in ways that feel both glamorous and alienating.
Speaker 1: Russell and his team root the film in mood rather
Speaker 1: than technology, ensuring it feels authentic without being gimmicky. At
Speaker 1: its core, Lurker is more than just the thriller. It's
Speaker 1: a pointed critique of our culture's obsession with access, how
Speaker 1: simply being close to fame is often mistaken for having meaning.
Speaker 1: By the time it's the story reaches an unsettling conclusion.
Speaker 1: That message resonates with haunting clarity. While the film plays
Speaker 1: with familiar beats of celebrity envy and fatal obsession, Russell's
Speaker 1: fresh perspective makes it feel urgent and disturbingly plausible. In
Speaker 1: a seasoned crowded with big blockbusters, Lurker stands out by
Speaker 1: whispering when others shout, and the chills cut even deeper.
Speaker 1: I gave this film a B plus. That's it for
Speaker 1: this real review of Lurker. You can read the full
Speaker 1: written review at the filmgrdon dot com and catch more
Speaker 1: of our reviews, interviews and commentary there. Don't forget to
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Speaker 1: Keep it real, but always keep it real.