In contemporary social media, the relationship between fans and celebrities has long transcended the traditional one of mere viewing and being viewed. The film “Lurker” reveals the distortion of contemporary fan culture through the process of an ordinary person infiltrating the life of a celebrity.
The original meaning of the word “Lurker” is referred to as someone who lurks on social media platforms, forums or groups, does not actively participate in discussions or interactions, but continuously observes others’ activities. It carries a sense of an inconspicuous observer. In “Lurker” this film, the concept of “lurker” is greatly expanded and visualized.
Matthew’s surveillance Source: IMDb
Directed by Alex Russell, “Lurker” was released globally in August 2025 (IMDb, 2025). Subsequently, the film sparked widespread discussions among the public and critics worldwide. The film received a great deal of attention not only because it closely reflects the current cultural situation and the lives of young people, but also it creates a realistic and recognisable sense of fear. The protagonist of the film is Matthew, a retail store employee in Los Angeles. By chance, he meets the musician Oliver and gradually becomes involved in his life and social circle. During this process, Matthew gradually loses his rationality, shifting from mere observation to possession. The distorted fan culture presented in the film can also cause fans to lose themselves and get trapped in dangerous dependent relationships and “toxic dance of para-social relationship”.
Russell continued his style from his independent psychological dramas. In “Lurker”, he also demonstrated restraint and control, avoiding the use of bloodshed or violence to create panic. Instead, he created an atmosphere of unease through delicate and realistic interactions(Lee, 2025). Russell deliberately focuses the film on everyday behaviors to align with the context of contemporary social media, to reflect the underlying psychological mechanisms behind fan culture and celebrity worship. Audiences can observe similar behaviors in real life. This authenticity gives the film a greater psychological impact. Russell’s precise describe the characters’ psychology and social relationships, which makes Lurker not only remain at the narrative level, but also develop into a detailed observation of contemporary fan culture.
The significance of the film not only in being a psychological thriller, but also in serving as a warning against the distorted fan culture. Because a nationwide survey conducted in China in 2024 found that among 800 young people aged 18-25 who had a liking for celebrities, approximately one-third showed a pathological tendency towards celebrity worship (Wei and Huang 2024).
In real life，although fans regard celebrities as their role models and sources of motivation, the emergence of distorted fan culture consciousness has changed the meaning of celebrities. If excessive search for identity and extreme fan behaviors occurs, this identification will transform into a more dangerous dependent relationship. This is also the most intense and focused plot in the “Lurker” series. Matthew becomes increasingly dissatisfied with just identity recognition and worship. To ensure that Matthew always stay by Oliver’s side, he constantly suppresses and even gives up his own subjectivity, showing extreme compliance and controlling behaviours, such as Matthew being willing to accept humiliation, changing behaviour, manipulating others’ behaviour, and even monitoring Oliver’s every move (Piazza, 2025). At the same time, the research analysis of this transformation is essentially a “Toxic dance of para-social relationships”, meaning that both sides constantly swing between power and dependence, forming a structure of mutual exploitation and mutual consumption. In the film, Matthew constantly focuses, imitates, and emotionally invests to gain recognition, while Oliver also enjoys this worship, but does not offer an equal relationship. Thus, Matthew becomes more dependent to obtain equal rewards and attention, gradually developing into a pathological and dangerous state. The two are seemingly interacting, but one is losing the self, while the other is consolidating its power.
In addition, music and narration are closely combined in “lurker”. The background music of Kenny beats alternates between calmness and oppression, mapping out the psychological contradictions of the characters. It also enhances the surveillance and anxiety scenes through rapid staccato notes, while the slow, melancholic melody highlights the vulnerability and loneliness (Lurker (2025) Review: Fame, Manipulation, and the Toxic Dance of Parasocial Relationships, 2025). Russell’s style emphasises a tense atmosphere, allowing the combination of music and plot to more precisely control the emotions of the audience. The film uses music’s metaphor and symbolism to reflect Matthew’s control over Oliver. Due to the combination of music and narration, the main theme is strengthened at the sensory level, enabling the audience to more profoundly experience the complex relationship of control and being controlled as well as the terrifying nature of fan culture.
In conclusion, Lurker offers a terrifying and highly nuanced critique of contemporary fan culture by expanding the notion of the “lurker” into a full psychological drama. Through Matthew’s descent from passive observation into obsessive possession, the film exposes the dangers of distorted para-social relationships and the toxic dynamics of dependence and control.
Shoujie Wang 
Yinan Zhou 
SUN Yinchen