steve movie review

The movie "Steve" (2025) starring Cillian Murphy is a drama set in a reform school for troubled boys called Stanton Wood. The film centers on Steve, the weary and troubled headmaster who deeply cares for the boys but struggles with his own demons. The story unfolds over a chaotic 24 hours featuring a TV crew filming, a parliamentary visit, and the threat of the school's closure. Critics praise Cillian Murphy's compelling and nuanced performance as the complex title character. The film is noted for its gritty realism and stylistic camerawork, though some find the narrative cluttered and heavy with social-issues commentary, occasionally lacking psychological depth and subtlety. The supporting characters, especially the student Shy (Jay Lycurgo), provide emotional core and insight into troubled youth. The movie is intense, stylistically dynamic, and explores themes of tough love, rehabilitation, and empathy in a challenging environment. While the film delivers strong acting and meaningful moments, it can feel emotionally overwhelming and somewhat disjointed with competing narrative threads. Overall, "Steve" is seen as a profound but exhausting social drama highlighting the struggles of both the educator and the at-risk youth he tries to help.