The Bear writer Alex Russell’s directorial debut Lurker is the kind of movie that you come to Sundance for, and has been desperately missing for too long. A suspenseful, marketable, wholly original piece with recognizable stars and others on the rise. That it’s also funny and has a bit of an edge to it, commenting on the nature of celebrity and fanatical worship, is a welcome bonus for one of the best films here in Park City this year.
Canadian actor Theodore Pellerin is Matthew, a retail employee who worms his way into the entourage of rising pop superstar Oliver, played by Saltburn actor Archie Madekwe. Matthew’s a slick one; when Oliver enters his store he immediately begins playing the singer’s favorite song over the speakers, forging an instant connection bolstered by his feigned ignorance of the celebrity. It’s a dream come true for Matthew, who seems to be living quite a lonely existence with his grandmother.
Invited into Oliver’s inner sanctum, Matthew is in awe at how open and close his relationship with Oliver becomes. While his crew of homies are initially suspicious, you get the feeling that if Oliver wants this guy around then he must be okay. Whatever Oliver wants, these folks are going to give him. Such is the nature of the symbiotic celebrity relationship. “Make yourself useful”, suggests house manager Shai (Havana Rose Liu) to Matthew, who is eager to prove himself. Eventually, he becomes indispenible as a documentarian, capturing Oliver’s most candid moments and deeply-held thoughts. “I don’t talk like this with anyone else. I guess that makes you my best friend”, Oliver says. It all feels a bit performative, this openness from the pop celeb, but Matthew takes it to heart, dangerously so.
There’s an underlying feeling of dread because Matthew gives off serious red flags. When his position within the group is threatened, you can see his spine stiffen and the gears start grinding in his head. Being part of an entourage like this is a constant power struggle, and Matthew is determined to stay on top no matter what, sacrificing friends and family if necessary to be anything and everything that Oliver needs him to be.
Lurker is wildly entertaining and crackles with the same energy that Russell’s writing has brought to The Bear and the Netflix hit series Beef. Every conversation drives the narrative further along, sparking tensions and setting up multiple conflicts. Matthew is a fascinating creation, sad and perhaps sexually confused, as well. He wants nothing more than to be in Oliver’s orbit, but maybe also the center of his universe. It’s a fantastic role for Madekwe, who has shined in Saltburn as well as Gran Turismo. He’s proving to be one of those actors who brings a different flavor with each role. Here, you really get a sense of his size (a statuesque 6 foot 5) and masculinity, which makes Oliver’s sensitivity seem like an act, which it very well could be. Oliver is as much a manipulator as anyone, and it turns out there’s a lot more in common between those who are famous and those who just want to be adjacent to fame.
