Aahana Swrup
Directed by Alex Russell, ‘Lurker’ is a psychological thriller-drama that explores the unique dynamic between two men in the modern-day City of Angels. Oliver is an up-and-coming artist who is on the precipice of blowing up in the music scene. A chance meeting puts him in the orbit of Matthew, a retail store worker and aspiring visual artist. Soon enough, the latter successfully integrates himself into the musician’s social circle, becoming a constant addition in his personal and professional life.
However, as their relationship progresses, it becomes evident that their so-called friendship is a playground for power dynamics, opportunistic plays, and a deliberate clamor for success. The story uses Oliver and Matthew’s distinctive relationship to explore broader themes of obsession and what it truly means to make connections in a world dominated by the ever-growing need to social-climb. Thus, the narrative’s thematic resonance, paired with characters that feel inherently familiar, keeps the story grounded in reality.
Lurker is a Fictional Story With Realistic Inspirations in LA’s Networking Culture
Despite centering around artists and the entertainment industry at a ground level, ‘Lurker’ isn’t a biographical account of any real-life people or events. Instead, it’s a work of fiction that can be credited to the creativity of the Writer/Director Alex Russell. The idea for the film came about during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Russell, known for his work as a writer on shows like ‘Beef’ and ‘The Bear,’ wanted to delve into scriptwriting for films. The filmmaker was already interested in the contemporary dynamics of relationships among men in their 20s. As a result, he ended up creating Oliver and Matthew’s characters and narratives as the nucleus of the story.
In a conversation with Script Mag, Russell spoke about the origin of the film and said, “The seed of it, I think, just came from a feeling I had. Maybe a feeling of sort of disgust and shame around people my age and kind of the environments I was in in LA, obviously, sort of crystallized and taken to an extreme in this movie, but something I was feeling that I couldn’t articulate at the time.” In the film, Matthew is portrayed as an opportunistic individual who deliberately and meticulously forms a bond with Oliver to leverage his social credibility and influence as a stepping stone for his own artistry.
While the specific tale that unfolds between these two on-screen characters remains fictionalized, the premise is rooted in the reality of human opportunism and social climbing. The hyper-specific setting of Los Angeles adds another layer to the story, as it particularly deals with the city’s social culture, shaped by the artistic industries. For Russell, this became an easily accessible muse since the filmmaker has remained an active member in these social circles for a significant part of his life and career. For the same reason, he could tap into realistic themes and authentic details about the social environment, which are crucial to his characters’ narratives. Ultimately, these elements contribute toward creating a realistic world for the story, grounding it in a sense of relatability and familiarity for the audience.
Oliver is a Musician Created Specifically for Lurker
Oliver exists within the fictional confines of ‘Lurker,’ subsequently retaining a similarly fictional character. Although the musician isn’t based on any real-life artists, his characterization and storylines draw on loose inspirations from many different sources. Famously, Alex Russell has cited Dominic Fike, the rapper and singer/songwriter, as one such inspiration. However, the filmmaker has specified that Fike’s discernment as a public figure in the arts was a prominent influence on Oliver’s character rather than the real-life artist’s identity as a person. On the other hand, the public has also speculated that Rex Orange County, also known as Alexander James O’Connor, was an inspirational counterpart behind the character.
There is no official confirmation of these rumors. Yet Rex Orange County does exert a notable influence on Oliver’s character, as the artist, along with several others, worked on the production of the film’s original music. As for concrete real-life inspirations, Russell spoke with IndieWire about it. He said, “We really had to beat the allegations of this being about one person in particular, because that would have, I think, really shrunk the scope of it all. The more we worked on it with Archie (Madekwe, who plays Oliver), the more it just became well disguised, like an amalgam of all these different artists. It also made it unique enough where he could just be his own thing, but it took some time.”
Matthew’s Narrative Explores an Uncomfortable Reality of Social Obsession
Unlike Oliver’s character, Matthew is entirely unique to the narrative of ‘Lurker.’ From the get-go, the character has an ominous air surrounding him as he manipulates his way into Oliver’s life for his own selfish purposes. However, instead of a unique characteristic, this defining factor of Matthew’s character reflects his surroundings. The videographer isn’t a stalker; his obsession with Oliver isn’t influenced by any personal factors. Instead, he’s just an ambitious individual who wants to exploit his close proximity to the artist for his own benefit, much like every other person in Oliver’s life.
The only difference is that Matthew’s relationship with this dynamic remains more intense and concentrated. As a result, his character becomes a perfect study in the nature of social obsession, especially in the contemporary world and its unique models of fame and success. His storyline speaks to a deeper truth about the added layer of social currency that operates within friendships in the entertainment industry. Reportedly, actor Théodore Pellerin prepared for the role by studying videos of musicians and zeroing in on the habits, language, and personalities of the people they’re often surrounded by.
Additionally, his character comes with an added nuance of class commentary. In the film, it’s evident that Matthew’s working-class background has an influence on his ambitious desires to integrate himself into Oliver’s luxurious and opulent world. This transition between classes adds to his characterization as a social chameleon. Furthermore, it allows the character to remain relatable to the audience. Most of his actions, interactions, and motives, even the more extreme ones, remain grounded in reality, preventing the viewers from maintaining any comfortable distance from him. His social struggles become authentic, and consequently so does his otherwise fictional characterization.
