🕵️‍♂️LURKER (2025): Cast, Plot, Release Date & Netflix’s Latest Psychological Thriller About Obsession Gone Too Far

Boxofficehype
Jul 8
2 min read

LURKER (2025) — When Obsession Finds a Way In

“Keep your friends close.” But what if the ones closest to you are the ones you should fear the most?

LURKER, the haunting and immersive psychological thriller from first-time director Alex Russell, is set to hit US theaters on August 22, 2025, with a Canadian release following on August 29. Premiering to buzz at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, this film peels back the layers of fandom, celebrity, and obsession in the age of social media and blurred boundaries.

Distributed by MUBI in the U.S. and Canada, and Focus Features internationally, LURKER is poised to be one of this year’s most chilling and talked-about indie releases.

🎥 A Paranoia-Fueled Debut

Alex Russell steps behind the camera in his directorial debut, delivering a slow-burning, stylish psychological drama that balances intimacy with unease. Known for his acting roles, Russell brings a distinctly personal and unnerving energy to the film, showcasing the quiet tension that lurks behind seemingly normal connections.

🔥 The Premise: Parasocial Turned Personal

At the heart of LURKER is Matthew (played with eerie nuance by Théodore Pellerin), a retail worker whose quiet life takes a dark turn after he befriends the inner circle of rising pop star Oliver (played by Archie Madekwe). What begins as a harmless fascination soon spirals into a tangled web of access, deception, and dangerous proximity.

In the digital age, the line between fan and friend has never been thinner—and Matthew knows exactly how to walk it… until he doesn't.

🌟 A Cast That Commands the Screen

The film boasts a magnetic ensemble cast:

Théodore Pellerin (Matthew), whose performance anchors the film with unsettling depth.
Archie Madekwe (Oliver), a charismatic pop star navigating fame and vulnerability.
Zack Fox (Swett) adds tension and humor as a member of Oliver’s entourage.
Havana Rose Liu (Shai), Oliver’s confidante with secrets of her own.
Wale Onayemi, Daniel Zolghadri (Noah), and Sunny Suljic (Jamie) round out the cast in key roles that add texture and unpredictability.

🎬 Behind the Scenes

Cinematography by Pat Scola gives LURKER its moody, voyeuristic visual style.
Editing by David Kashevaroff keeps the tension simmering with precision.
Score by Kenneth Blume (aka producer Kaytranada) adds a pulsing, hypnotic soundtrack that perfectly complements the film’s dark tone.

🧠 Themes: Fame, Fixation & Fragility

LURKER dives headfirst into the parasocial dynamics of modern fame. It questions the safety of access, the performative nature of relationships, and how those looking from the outside in are sometimes the ones pulling the strings.

It’s a cautionary tale for the Instagram generation—where every like, comment, or DM might be the first step toward something far more intimate... and far more dangerous.