Steve (2025) Review: A Gritty, Exhausting Masterpiece of Human Vulnerability Stream or Skip It?

by Talha · October 4, 2025

Key Takeaways

Cillian Murphy delivers one of his most vulnerable performances yet.
The film explores caregiving, trauma, and institutional collapse.
Steve is emotionally intense, challenging, and deeply rewarding.

Fresh off his Oscar win for Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy reunites with director Tim Mielants for Steve, a raw and relentless Netflix drama set in a struggling reform school. Adapted from Max Porter’s novel Shy, the film channels Murphy’s star power into an intimate, chaotic story about vulnerability, caregiving, and institutional failure.

Steve arrives as a fascinating case study in contemporary filmmaking—a streaming title with artistic ambitions that simultaneously functions as a vehicle for one of today’s most compelling actors. This review will dissect the film’s technical achievements, thematic concerns, and performances to determine whether this challenging drama deserves your attention or represents an exercise in directorial excess.

Movie Overview: A Day in Institutional Chaos

Set in 1996 at Stanton Wood, a state-funded British reform school for teenage boys, Steve unfolds over a single, relentlessly chaotic day. Murphy plays the titular Steve, the dedicated head teacher of an institution that serves as a last chance for troubled young men whom society has largely abandoned . The school operates on progressive principles, focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment, with teachers who genuinely care about their charges despite the constant turmoil.

The narrative tension escalates through three primary catalysts: a documentary crew filming a segment about the school with questionable motives , the unexpected news that Stanton Wood will be shut down in six months due to funding issues , and a visit from a pompous parliamentary representative seeking a photo opportunity. Meanwhile, the film simultaneously follows Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a particularly vulnerable student who receives devastating personal news that pushes him toward self-destructive behavior .

This dual focus—on both the caregiver and those in his care—creates a rich tension that the film explores through intimate character moments amidst the institutional chaos. As Steve tells the documentary crew when asked to describe himself in three words: “Very, very tired” —a statement that encapsulates the emotional and physical exhaustion of caring for those in crisis.

Technical Analysis: Controlled Chaos in Cinematic Form

steve netflix movie scene — Credit : Netflix

Direction and Cinematography

Director Tim Mielants employs a vigorously active camera that mirrors the psychological states of his characters. The cinematography by Robrecht Heyvaert alternates between intimate handheld shots that place viewers directly in the chaotic school environment and startlingly artistic flourishes—including drone shots, upside-down angles, and rapid cuts—that disrupt visual stability . One particularly memorable sequence features the camera soaring through rain from a classroom window over a muddy soccer game, demonstrating technical virtuosity that some critics found showy yet undeniably impactful .

The documentary-style interludes—grainy interview segments with the characters—provide moments of relative calm amidst the visual turbulence while simultaneously commenting on the nature of observation and exploitation . This formal choice creates a meta-commentary on how society views “troubled youth” through mediated lenses rather than direct engagement.

Sound and Music

The auditory landscape of Steve proves equally vital to its impact. Composers Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow provide a haunting score that underscores the emotional desolation , while the film’s soundtrack heavily features the drum-and-bass music that constantly streams through Shy’s Walkman headphones . This sonic choice effectively immerses viewers in Shy’s subjective experience, using music as both escape mechanism and barrier against a painful world.

Notably, rapper and co-star Little Simz (Simbi Ajikawo) contributed an original song, “Don’t Leave Too Soon,” specifically for the film after being moved by Lycurgo’s performance . These careful auditory choices create a rich soundscape that complements the visual intensity.

Performance Analysis: A Tour de Force in Vulnerability

Cillian Murphy as Steve

Murphy delivers what many critics are calling a tour-de-force performance that showcases his remarkable ability to convey profound emotion through subtlety and silence . His Steve is a complex portrait of a “helpless helper”—a man who possesses genuine compassion and skill in reaching his students while simultaneously unraveling from his own unaddressed trauma and self-medication through alcohol and pills .

What makes Murphy’s work particularly compelling is how he manifests Steve’s internal struggle physically—the weary posture, the fidgety hands, the glassy eyes that barely conceal desperation . In a career filled with nuanced performances, this ranks among his most vulnerable and emotionally transparent characterizations, demonstrating that Murphy’s Oscar win has only deepened his commitment to challenging, character-driven work .

Supporting Cast

While Murphy commands attention, the film benefits from a formidable ensemble cast:

Jay Lycurgo as Shy delivers what many have called a revelatory performance , capturing the raw vulnerability and simmering rage of a young man teetering between self-destruction and hope. Lycurgo brings such authenticity to the role that Murphy recalls the casting tape “broke everybody’s heart” during auditions .
Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson provide sturdy supporting work as fellow staff members who share Steve’s dedication while confronting their own disillusionment .
The young actors portraying the students create a convincingly chaotic ensemble that avoids stereotypical portrayals of “troubled youth,” instead presenting them as complex individuals capable of both violence and tenderness .

Thematic Exploration: Caregiving as Self-Destruction

At its core, Steve explores the psychological costs of caregiving in a society that fails to support its most vulnerable members. The film thoughtfully examines how institutions designed to help can become sites of mutual destruction for both caregivers and those in their charge. Steve’s gradual breakdown mirrors the struggles of his students, suggesting that the line between helper and helped is often illusory .

The film also offers a sharp critique of society’s tendency to sensationalize rather than substantively address social problems. The documentary crew represents a media apparatus more interested in crafting compelling narratives than understanding complex realities, while the politician’s visit epitomizes empty gestures in place of meaningful action .

Perhaps most powerfully, Steve argues for vulnerability as strength rather than weakness. As director Mielants states in the film’s ending explanation, “Vulnerability is the strongest weapon we possess as human beings” . This theme manifests through Steve’s eventual breakdown and Shy’s near-suicidal descent—both moments of crisis that ultimately open possibilities for genuine connection and healing.

Criticisms and Flaws: When Ambition Outstrips Execution

Despite its considerable strengths, Steve has drawn criticism for several perceived flaws:

The film’s relentless chaos and breakneck pace prove exhausting for some viewers . While intentional, this approach occasionally crosses from immersive to overwhelming, potentially alienating audiences rather than engaging them.

The narrative shift from Porter’s original novel—which centered on Shy—to the teacher’s perspective has been questioned by some critics . This choice, likely influenced by Murphy’s involvement, sometimes leaves Shy’s character underdeveloped at crucial moments, particularly in the third act .

The film employs what some have called “rubber-ducky” exposition —a term coined by Sidney Lumet describing overly tidy backstory explanations for character trauma. Steve’s guilt over a past car accident that killed a child feels to some critics like a contrived attempt to psychologically explain his behavior .

The stylish directorial flourishes, while impressive, occasionally pull focus from the emotional core of scenes, privileging style over substance .

The Streaming Verdict: Who Should Watch Steve?

✅Stream It If:

You appreciate character-driven dramas anchored by exceptional performances
You’re a fan of Cillian Murphy and want to see him explore different facets of his craft post-Oppenheimer
You have patience for challenging, emotionally demanding cinema that doesn’t offer easy resolutions
You’re interested in social issue films that explore the education system and youth rehabilitation

🚫Skip It If:

You’re seeking light entertainment or escapism—this is an intensely heavy viewing experience
You prefer conventional narrative structures with clear resolutions
You’re triggered by depictions of suicidal ideation, substance abuse, or institutional failure
You find chaotic, stylistically ambitious filmmaking distracting rather than immersive

Final Assessment

Steve is not a perfect film—its ambitions sometimes outstrip its execution, and its unrelenting intensity can feel more draining than illuminating. However, it represents precisely the type of artistically risky, performance-driven cinema that deserves support in the streaming era. Murphy’s breathtaking performance alone makes it essential viewing for serious film enthusiasts, while its thoughtful exploration of caregiving, vulnerability, and institutional failure offers substantial thematic rewards for those willing to sit with its discomfort.

While it may not reach the emotional heights of Small Things Like These or the monumental achievement of Oppenheimer, Steve confirms Murphy and Mielants as one of the most compelling actor-director partnerships working today. For viewers weary of algorithmically-designed content, this challenging, flawed, but ultimately powerful drama provides the kind of authentic human storytelling that reminds us what cinema can achieve at its best.

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FAQs:

Q1: What is the Netflix film Steve (2025) about?
A: Steve follows a chaotic day at a British reform school, exploring caregiving, vulnerability, and institutional failure.

Q2: Who stars in Steve (2025)?
A: Cillian Murphy stars as Steve, with Jay Lycurgo, Tracey Ullman, Emily Watson, and Little Simz in key roles.

Q3: Is Steve worth watching?
A: Yes, for fans of character-driven, emotionally intense dramas and Murphy’s raw, award-worthy performances.