Where was Lurker filmed? Complete guide to all filming locations and other production details

Lurker is a psychological thriller drama that premiered in theaters in the United States on August 22, 2025. Before its US premiere, it was shown at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in January and was later screened at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February.

Distributed by Mubi in North America and Focus Features internationally, the film has been released for a limited theatrical run alongside other new titles this weekend. The project first appeared on the 2020 Black List before gradually moving into production.

The movie is directed and written by Alex Russell. For Russell, who is known for his work in television for series like The Bear and Beef, Lurker is his debut feature as a director. The cast of the movie includes Théodore Pellerin, Archie Madekwe, Havana Rose Liu, Sunny Suljic, Daniel Zolghadri, and Zack Fox. The film follows a story that delves deep into friendship, fandom, and power in the world of entertainment.

Much of Lurker was filmed in Los Angeles, California, grounding the narrative in a city where celebrity culture thrives. The Los Angeles Times also reported on August 21, 2025, that the film “mostly takes place in Los Angeles,” emphasizing how central the City of Angels is to the movie’s plot.

Some exterior scenes were also filmed in Brooklyn, New York, providing contrast to the Los Angeles setting and broadening the film’s visual landscape.

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Every major filming location where Lurker was shot

Los Angeles, California

Nighttime view of the LA skyline from the Griffith Observatory, located on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, just above the Los Feliz neighborhood (Image via Getty)

Most of Lurker was filmed in Los Angeles, California. The City of Angels served as the main backdrop for the film’s story, providing both interior and exterior settings that reflect the drama’s tone.

The production used residential spaces, including a main house that hosted several significant scenes. According to a Reuters report published on February 21, 2025, Archie Madekwe, who starred in Lurker as Oliver, said that the main house used in several important sequences was later destroyed in the early 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

Los Angeles was chosen as the primary backdrop of Lurker not only for its wide availability of production resources but also for its close connection to the entertainment and music industries, which were central to the film’s narrative. Director Alex Russell addressed choosing the city as the main filming location in the aforementioned The Los Angeles Times article.

“I felt gross about being in L.A. but also hopeful. What I like about this place - and I think this is represented in the movie - is that it’s full of people who are trying to put themselves out there in some type of way,” he said, recalling his own experience as a struggling artist in the city.

Russell stressed that filming in Los Angeles was vital for preserving authenticity and anchoring the narrative in a location where celebrity culture and ambition were firmly entrenched. The neighborhoods and venues in the city offered authentic backdrops for the realm of emerging musicians and their teams, resonating with themes of influence, access, and power.

Los Angeles has consistently been one of the most popular filming centers globally. It houses numerous iconic districts and historic studios, making it a suitable option for filmmakers. Lurker adds to a vast collection of movies and TV shows set in the city, maintaining its status as a pivotal backdrop for modern narratives.

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Brooklyn, New York

A general view of the skyline of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, New York (Image via Getty)

While most of Lurker was filmed in Los Angeles, some sequences were filmed in Brooklyn, New York. The borough provided some additional exterior shots that highlighted the contrast between the urban music scene and the quieter residential settings. Brooklyn’s growing use in independent productions made it a fitting secondary location, adding visual variety to the film.

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What is Lurker all about?

Matthew sits at a computer, symbolizing surveillance and obsession (Image via YouTube/MUBI)

Lurker is a psychological drama thriller directed and written by Alex Russell. The story follows Matthew, a retail worker who infiltrates the inner circle of Oliver, a rising pop star. What begins as an encounter in a Los Angeles clothing store turns into a tense dynamic of influence and control, as access and proximity shift the boundaries between friend and fan.

The official logline of Lurker reads:

“A retail employee infiltrates the inner circle of an artist on the verge of stardom. As he gets closer to the budding music star, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.”

The theme of the movie examines parasocial connections and the power disparities present in social groups. The story takes place in an entertainment environment, and the movie steers clear of grand scenes, centering on evolving personal relationships that ultimately lead to perilous outcomes.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Archie Madekwe and Théodore Pellerin, supported by several rising talents. The cast of the film includes:

• Théodore Pellerin as Matthew
• Archie Madekwe as Oliver
• Zack Fox as Swett
• Havana Rose Liu as Shai
• Olawale Onayemi as Bowen
• Daniel Zolghadri as Noah
• Sunny Suljic as Jamie
• Cam Hicks as Sebastian
• Greta Gould as Grace
• Mikaela Poon as Ava
• Hannah Christine Shetler as Kendra
• Sofia Hasmik as Sofia
• Myra Turley as Grandma Christine

The cast showcases Alex Russell’s intention to combine up-and-coming talent with recognized figures in the industry. The script for Lurker was originally included in the 2020 Black List, which showcased potential unproduced screenplays. Filming officially transitioned to post-production in April 2025 and was finalized by June 2025.

The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, prior to its showing at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2025, where it vied for the Teddy Award.

Lurker premiered in the United States on August 22, 2025, in select cinemas. It is anticipated to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in October 2025. It brings together the energy of Los Angeles and the contrasts of Brooklyn to frame a story about power, access, and obsession.

The movie’s use of real settings grounds the film in spaces that mirror the world it portrays. Lurker’s release marks an important career moment for director Alex Russell, with its strong ensemble cast offering audiences a film that reflects the complexities of celebrity culture and the parasocial relationships the public often develops with said celebrities.

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Lurker is now available in select theaters across the United States.