By Isha Sharma | Oct 03, 2025 | 04:43 pm
**What’s the story?**
*Cillian Murphy’s Steve*, out now on Netflix, is directed by Tim Mielants, who previously collaborated with Murphy on *Small Things Like These*. Based on Max Porter’s 2023 novella, *Shy*, the film traces a turbulent, nerve-racking day in the life of Steve, the headmaster of a reform school for boys. Murphy excels in his complex role, but the film leaves much to be desired.
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### Plot: Follows a committed, troubled teacher at a reform school
The film centers on Steve, the headmaster of Stanton Wood, a reform school for unruly male teens. His mental health is in tatters, the staff is underpaid and overworked, and the boys show little to no sign of progress. One day, authorities inform Steve that the school will be closed in six months, leaving him to come to terms with this shocking and unfortunate news.
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### #1 Murphy delivers a stirring act
Cillian Murphy captures the ache, anxiety, and aggression of Steve exceedingly well—you can truly sense the storm brewing inside him. Steve wears himself out trying to help the kids, and Murphy essays the role with just the right amount of intensity. For Steve, this job is a form of redemption; saving the boys would mean rescuing himself too.
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### #2 The film has ambition, but not everything comes together
The film offers sharp dialogue and boasts an ensemble cast of talented, experienced actors including Emily Watson and Tracey Ullman. However, aside from Steve, every character feels underwritten and remains distant from the audience. Adding to this, the ending comes across as quite incomplete. Rather than encouraging reflection, it simply leaves viewers frustrated.
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### #3 The movie begins to feel weary after a point
An unbridled energy and constant chaos define the film—boys fighting, teachers struggling, and an exploitative documentary crew conducting interviews. Everything happens simultaneously, and the school is in complete disarray. While this frenetic energy works in the film’s favor initially, it soon begins to overwhelm the narrative, leaving viewers feeling exhausted rather than entertained.
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### #4 More on the above aspect
The film has an unapologetically raw and realistic feel but struggles to engage fully. You stay with it because you want to see how Steve’s journey will unfold, but the wayward, sloppy writing never makes this easy. The boys get ample screentime, yet by the film’s end, we know very little about them.
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### Verdict: Murphy’s performance alone can’t save the film
*Cillian Murphy delivers a scintillating performance in Steve and leaves no room for complaint, but his artistry alone cannot save the movie.* The film feels tiring and tedious, frequently finding itself on shaky, uneven ground. While Murphy’s role is one for the ages and the film maintains an intense, gritty atmosphere, the overall experience is an unrewarding and unentertaining ride.
**Rating: 2.5/5 stars**
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