Netflix’s gut-wrenching new film that ‘barely stops for breath’ streaming in days

A brand-new Netflix film that’s been branded ‘devastating’ and a ‘superbly acted diamond in the rough’ will be streaming on the platform this week.

Considered an Oscars hopeful by Netflix, Steve has already been showing in selected cinemas and generated buzz after premiering at Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Starring Academy Award winner Cillian Murphy as the committed titular headteacher battling for his reform school’s survival while managing his own mental health, the film is based on Max Porter’s acclaimed novella Shy.

Across one pivotal day, it also follows troubled student Shy (Jay Lycurgo) among the cohort of spirited boys with behavioural and societal difficulties at Stanton Wood as he navigates his violent tendencies and fragility, torn between his past and future, while a local news crew visit to film a piece at the struggling school.

Steve also stars Tracey Ullman, rapper Little Simz, Emily Watson, Roger Allam, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, and Priyanga Burford.

Awarded a fresh rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, Steve has so far been met with largely positive reviews from critics, as it was praised as ‘an emotional roller coaster and a call to action’.

And as of Friday, you’ll be able to judge for yourself as Steve starts streaming on Netflix.

‘The movie is an intense watch, from start to finish, barely stopping for breath during its 92-minute runtime,’ observed critic Kat Halstead in a four-star review, while Rolling Stone UK’s review commented: ‘It’s darkly funny and thought-provoking – and as nail-biting as you might expect.’

‘A profoundly moving and superbly acted diamond in the rough, Steve is better than anything the streamer has pushed for best picture to date,’ announced Variety.

‘Steve quietly grabs you at the throat and doesn’t let go for a stressful, sometimes funny, and often poignant 92 minutes, thanks – in particular – to its outstanding cast,’ I wrote in my review for Metro.

‘Steve is a smaller than usual – but no-less-worthy – awards season contender from Netflix, and a film made with enough urgency and dedication that I’m still thinking about it after several days.’

Audience members who have already caught Steve in cinemas have also been left impressed, with Melissa J praising it as ‘a chaotic, funny and beautifully emotional film’ and Greg A calling it ‘brilliant all around’.

‘Harrowing in parts and undeniably raw throughout,’ said Nic Mehew in a Google review, while Elliot Boardwell added in a five-star reaction: ‘Some really incredible acting performances and a very powerful film. Felt hard to grasp at points, but one of the best endings to a film I think I’ve seen in a long time.’

Ahead of the film’s release, Murphy told Metro that he decided to totally change his approach to acting and his usual preparation for a role to best serve the chaos surrounding the character of Steve.

It was also a part written especially for him by Porter – also tackling the screenplay – who ‘immediately binned any idea of a novel to screen adaptation’ of Shy in a straightforward way.

‘I tried to take a completely different approach to the whole process for this one, because generally I lock myself away for a long time, I research and read like a mad thing, and you’re developing an accent and a physicality.

‘I love it, and I really go deep into it, and it’s very, very private – I don’t talk to people – and then, bit by bit, I begin to share it with the director,’ the actor explained.

‘But with this one, I thought I’m just going to turn up and be completely available and completely responsive to what’s happening. And because we shot chronologically, and because I was raised by teachers, and because I know Max so well, and knew the book so well, I felt the best way to prepare for this is just to be completely present in every moment and try and absorb what’s happening to the character as it’s happening.’

Steve streams exclusively on Netflix from Friday, October 3.