‘Steve’ review: Cillian Murphy shines in nail biting school drama

Most days at work are beyond hectic for Steve (Cillian Murphy): he’s running an understaffed reform school for young men who are as fragile as they are violent, so managing their moods is a full time job, let alone managing a small and stressed team of staff. Urgent concerns are shifting down his to-do list, replaced by meetings with corporate suits who have a comical misunderstanding of the school and its needs. But today’s even worse: there’s a news camera crew coming to film in the home, a politician (Roger Allam) keen to use it as PR, and a boy called Shy (Jay Lycurgo), whose problems may be more urgent than anyone realises…

Directed by Tim Mielants, it’s a gripping day-in-the-life film that bills itself as a ‘reimagining’ of Max Porter’s book Shy, also set in the 1990s. The choppy visual style of the film reflects the frantic mood, switching from grainy TV documentary footage to close ups of faces and aerial views of the once-grand home. The music has a similar effect, whether it’s the score from Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow, or the tinny sound of second hand drum’n’bass coming from a Walkman. 

Also featured is the track ‘Don’t Leave Too Soon’ from Little Simz, aka Simbi Ajikawo, who also appears in the film as the newest teacher. She’s terrific, as are all the young men, along with seasoned actors such as Tracey Ullman and Emily Watson (the latter co-starred with Murphy in last year’s drama Small Things Like These, also beautifully directed by Mielants). As the title suggests, the focus is on Steve, and Murphy puts in a committed and believable performance as the man trying to hold everything together while battling his own demons. The extent of those demons is gradually revealed as the film continues: this invites you to piece the puzzle together as you go on a journey with the characters. It’s darkly funny and thought-provoking – and as nail-biting as you might expect.

STEVE is in select cinemas 19^th September and on Netflix 3^rd October