‘Lurker’ cuts to the heart of our fixation on stardom
Celebrity worship is nothing new, but in the unnerving “Lurker,” writer-director Alex Russell compellingly presents a parasocial relationship in which the host and parasite are co-dependent in their insatiable need for validation. But what draws you in after a slow start is the subtle, thought-provoking way the rookie filmmaker explores the lethality of fame and how easily it can destroy a person’s sense of self as well as their trust in the talent that made them idolic.
His guinea pig is British ex-pat Oliver (Archie Madekwe). A relative newcomer to the L.A. hip-hop scene, Ollie has yet to reach a level where he can no longer mingle anonymously among the masses, but he is at the cusp of being susceptible to an obsessed nobody (Théodore Pellerin) penetrating the popstar’s inner sanctum of interchangeable sycophants. After all, Matthew has seemingly been preparing months for the opportunity that presents itself when Ollie walks into the hip Melrose boutique where he works.
Thanks to social media, Matthew is well-versed in Ollie’s passions, especially his fondness for Nile Rodgers, whose music he calculatingly pumps through the shop’s sound system. It’s love at first sight. Or, on Matthew’s part anyway, “reciprocated” in the form of a backstage pass to tonight’s concert. At first, you detect a hint of “Notting Hill” or “The Idea of You.” But Russell, a staff writer on the Emmy-winning “The Bear,” has far more nefarious intent, slowly escalating a tale of psychological horror.
No blood is spilled, except for Matthew’s co-worker, Jamie (Sunny Suljic), who makes the mistake of trying to horn in on his buddy’s realized fantasy. But what we witness is rife with unease and unpredictability, as Ollie and Matthew dance around a homoerotic attraction in which love and respect are purely transactional. It helps that Matthew knows how to push Ollie’s buttons better than all the others in the performer’s posse, sparking resentment – and envy – among all those who previously served as Ollie’s latest butt-kisser.
One of the few members of the herd with an ounce of integrity is Ollie’s personal assistant, Shai (Havana Rose Liu). She’s onto Matthew, but is powerless to prevent Ollie from being sucked in by stratagems that are obvious to everyone but him. Ditto for Noah (Daniel Zolghadri), Ollie’s resident videographer, who is in danger of being supplanted by Matthew and his ever-present camcorder.
It’s all insidiously chilling, but Russell occasionally undercuts the thick air of anxiety with a soundtrack that can be a bit too on the nose, such as his repeat use of James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet,” and Ollie’s newest composition featuring the lyrics, “What’s the difference between love and obsession/I can never tell them apart.” But these missteps do little to diminish the impact of a movie that creeps under your skin.
It’s also certain to launch Pellerin and Madekwe into the mainstream. Both are excellent: Pellerin, pale, gaunt and doing his best Anthony Perkins’ “Psycho” thing by cloaking his evil ambition behind a congenial mask of unctuousness; and the muscular Madekwe, steeped in insecurity and requiring near constant affirmation of his worth as a star as well as a person. The irony, of course, is that both men are as deficient as the Gary Glitter fan club.
Props also to Pat Scola’s evocative camera work, especially the clever way he situates Pellerin in almost every shot, whether he’s at the fore or, as the title denotes, lurking menacingly in the background, like a vampire always thirsting for more blood. It perfectly complements Russell’s sly critique of the public’s yearning to know all there is to know about our favorite celebrities, as if they were lifelong friends.
Rarely, if ever, do we stop to consider how this unwarranted level of adoration has rendered some stars incapable of discerning true friends from leeches like Matthew, who feel entitled to intrude on their heartthrob’s spotlight. You can bet these misguided miscreants are ready for their close-up. But are their targets able to spot them? The answer, Russell suggests, is hiding in plain sight.
Movie review
Lurker
Rated: R for language throughout, some sexual content
Cast: Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Daniel Zolghadri, Sunny Suljic, Zack Fox and Havana Rose Liu
Director: Alex Russell
Writer: Alex Russell
Runtime: 100 minutes
Where: In theaters now and expanding wider Aug. 29
Grade: B+
