Hollywood outsider finds his way in with 'Lurker'

From writing on TV's 'Beef' and 'The Bear' to directing this year's Instagram stalker sensation, Alex Russell explores obsession and the desire to belong

- BY CARLOS AGUILAR

DIRECTOR Alex Russell of “Lurker” decided to make a thriller film about male relationships and their unspoken hierarchies.

We are sitting between the “Miscellaneous Horror” and “Juvenile Delinquents” sections at CineFile Video, a compact, densely stocked curated video store on the westside of Los Angeles.

Surrounded by physical media, I wonder how “Lurker,” the first feature by writer-director Alex Russell, will eventually be classified here. The shelf across from him holds the DVDs and Blu-rays labeled “Gay.” The realization prompts him to chuckle. “That’s me,” he says.

Arms crossed, Russell, 34, at first seems guarded and resistant to conversation. He admits doing press about his work is still a novel experience for him. Later, as he digs into the making and meaning of his movie, he'll relax and the words will spontaneously flow.

Out this Friday, "Lurker" examines the insidious entanglement between rising British music star Oliver (Archie Madekwe) and the seemingly docile Matthew (Théodore Pellerin), a clothing store employee turned self-styled tour videographer. As Matthew joins Oliver's inner circle, their parasocial bond evolves into a real friendship, until Matthew's desire to belong becomes dangerous. And while at first Oliver rules over a pack of sycophants, the power shifts.

"LURKER" actors Archie Madekwe, clockwise from left, Zack Fox, Théodore Pellerin, Sunny Suljic, director Alex Russell and Havana Rose Liu. Russell's first feature follows a young man navigating power and belonging.

"Everyone has been in a situation where they want a group of people to like them," Russell says. "And then sometimes you're on the other side of it, where you're already in and you see someone else wanting to be liked by you."