‘Lurker’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Archie Madekwe, Sunny Suljic, Théodore Pelleri, Cam Hicks, Zack Fox | Written and Directed by Alex Russell
Psychological thrillers have been part of cinema since its earliest days. From the Hitchcock classic Vertigo (1958), to the tense cat-and-mouse game of The Silence of the Lambs (1991), and the deeply emotional Oldboy (2003), one thing has always remained true: audiences love a great thriller.
Now, Mubi has released a new entry in the genre, Lurker, a psychological thriller that reminds this generation just how dangerous the world can be. Better yet, it’s now available on Blu-ray, ready to be watched again and again.
When a twenty-something retail clerk encounters a rising pop star, he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But as the line between friend and fan blurs beyond recognition, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.
Lurker is a raw, grounded film with an undeniably unsettling edge that lingers throughout. It feels less like pure entertainment and more like a cautionary tale. The performances are solid – nothing awards-worthy, but more than capable of carrying the story – while the direction and cinematography do a commendable job of building that eerie atmosphere. Calling it this generation’s Psycho might be a stretch, but there’s no denying it’s a thoroughly watchable and effective thriller.
Lurker arrives on Blu-ray in a strong 1080p transfer, framed in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Audio options include English DTS-HD Master Audio in both 5.1 and 2.0, alongside a French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track, with subtitles available in English and French. On a technical level, the disc delivers. Colours are bright, skin tones look natural, and the image remains crisp and clean throughout, with no noticeable digital artefacts or audio issues. It’s a presentation that does the film justice.
Where this release really falls short, however, is in the extras department – because there simply aren’t any. Not a single bonus feature is included, which is particularly disappointing given Mubi’s reputation for championing great cinema. It’s also not an isolated case, following their similarly barebones release of Die My Love. For a distributor so closely associated with film appreciation, the lack of supplemental material is both surprising and a genuine shame.
***½ 3.5/5
Ultimately, Lurker is a complex thriller that will make you think twice about ever wanting to be famous. If you would like to add the film to your collection, head over to Amazon and order your copy now.
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