Steve Netflix Review: Cillian Murphy Delivers His Most Emotionally Raw Performance Yet

Fresh off his Oscar-winning turn in “Oppenheimer,” Cillian Murphy returns to screens with “Steve,” a deeply moving Netflix drama that showcases the actor’s incredible range. Directed by Tim Mielants and adapted from Max Porter’s acclaimed 2023 novella “Shy,” this reform school drama is being hailed as “the year’s best Netflix movie” by critics.

Cillian Murphy Film Overview: Everything You Need to Know

The film follows a pivotal day in the life of head teacher Steve (Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy) and his students at a last-chance reform school amid a world that has forsaken them.

A Story That Hits Close to Home

Traces a pivotal 24 hours in the life of Steve, a headteacher of a last-chance reform school who struggles to keep his students in line, while also grappling with his spiraling mental health. The narrative follows Steve as he fights to protect his school’s integrity while preventing its impending closure.

What makes “Steve” particularly compelling is its dual perspective. In parallel to Steve’s struggles, we meet Shy (Jay Lycurgo), a troubled teen caught between his past and what lies ahead as he tries to reconcile his inner fragility with his impulse for self-destruction and violence.

This approach creates a powerful exploration of how both educators and students navigate the challenging world of alternative education, making it relevant to current discussions about mental health and educational reform.

Cillian Murphy’s Career-Defining Performance

Steve is a film that would not work at all with a lesser actor than Cillian Murphy at its centre. He grips your attention and demands empathy. Murphy’s portrayal of the headteacher showcases his ability to find subtlety in what could have been a stereotypical role.

The script fails to find depth in some of its most crucial characters, and sometimes feels performatively intense, but the Oscar winner for “Oppenheimer” shines throughout, adding subtlety and grace in places other actors would have ignored.

His collaboration with director Tim Mielants, following their work on “Small Things Like These,” demonstrates a creative partnership that brings out Murphy’s best qualities as a performer.

Supporting Cast Excellence

The ensemble cast provides strong support to Murphy’s central performance:

Jay Lycurgo delivers what critics are calling a standout performance as Shy, the troubled student whose story parallels Steve’s struggles. Taking a page out of Murphy’s minimalist acting playbook, Lycurgo plays this private moment of agony with the perfect amount of disbelief and heartbreak — so subtle and nuanced that it easily makes for the film’s most affecting scene.

Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson round out the cast, bringing gravitas to their roles as fellow educators in this challenging environment.

Critical Reception: A Mixed but Passionate Response

After premiering at TIFF this past weekend, critics are split on whether the film is a masterpiece or a mess. However, most agree that Murphy’s performance elevates the material significantly.

“Steve” is a powerful film with emotional performances from Murphy and Lycurgo, specifically, but it never rises to its own ambitions. Critics note that while the direction can feel chaotic, this appears intentional given the subject matter.

The film has been described as a difficult watch that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of both mental health struggles and the challenges facing alternative education systems.

What Makes “Steve” Stand Out

Unlike typical school dramas, “Steve” doesn’t offer easy solutions or feel-good moments. Instead, it presents an authentic look at the complexities of working with troubled youth while dealing with personal struggles.

The film’s approach to mental health is particularly noteworthy. The film ends with a plea for viewers suffering from depression and other mental health issues to reach out for help. “Steve” is a deeply compassionate drama that treats these issues with the seriousness they deserve.

From Novella to Screen: Adaptation Changes

Porter’s book followed one of the students named Shy (played here by a fantastic Jay Lycurgo), showing the school from the student’s perspective. Porter has shifted this for the film to prioritize Steve, giving audiences access to the administrative challenges of running such an institution.

While this change has received mixed reactions from critics, it allows Murphy to showcase his range while highlighting the often-overlooked struggles of educators in challenging environments.

Why You Should Watch

“Steve” offers more than just another prestige drama. It’s a timely exploration of mental health, educational challenges, and the human connection that can make all the difference in difficult circumstances.

For Murphy fans, this represents another chapter in his post-“Oppenheimer” career choices, showing his commitment to challenging, character-driven stories rather than blockbuster follow-ups.

Looking for more powerful dramas? Check out our Netflix drama reviews section and explore our Cillian Murphy filmography for more of his compelling performances.

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