Lurker

Don’t you ever get the feeling that in life, it’s not the best who get ahead — but the most ruthless? Lurker follows just such a determined soul: Matthew, played with piercing intensity by Théodore Pellerin, the Canadian actor known from It’s Only the End of the World and Beau Is Afraid. He works at a clothing store in Los Angeles, but he’s got ambition, brains, and sharp instincts — and he knows how to use them to climb higher.

His chance comes when he crosses paths with a rising pop star. Matthew’s not a musician himself, but he’s got other talents — like knowing exactly how to get in. Soon, he’s swept into the world orbiting Oliver — fans, collaborators, hangers-on — played by Archie Madekwe (Midsommar, Saltburn), who also serves as one of the film’s producers.

Matthew seems smarter than everyone around him, but can he really hold his ground in show business — a world where, as All About Eve taught us long ago, there’s always someone younger, prettier, and hungrier waiting in the wings?

Alex Russell’s debut feature explores the fine line between friendship and manipulation, drawing you in with sharply observed characters and expertly built tension — the kind that simmers in relationships that can be as rewarding as they are toxic.