Stephen movie review: An unsettling and gripping serial-killer drama that intrigues more than it falters

Stephen movie plot:

Stephen Jebaraj (Gomathi Shankar) confesses to killing nine girls and surrenders to police. Now with the question ‘who’ out of the case, crime inspector Michael (Michael Thangadurai) and psychiatrist Seema (Smruthi Venkat) probe the curious question of ‘why’ he had to kill them and surrender voluntarily.

Stephen movie review:

There is something sinister about not only murdering a bunch of people, but also confessing to the crime and surrendering. The cherry on the top being completely calm and composed as the police proceedings take place. The truth is laid out bare within a few minutes into the film, with the rest only tackling on the psyche of the murderer in this straight-to-Netflix serial killer film Stephen. In all its possibilities, Stephen is a character study that wants to bend your mind and sometimes make you go nuts over its central character. When the film sets the tone for this, you are to expect the unexpected. But does Stephen do it convincingly. For most part yes.

Also read: Stephen team Gomathi Shankar and Mithun Balaji on their serial-killer saga: Ours isn’t a whodunit, it’s a whydunit | EXCLUSIVE

Stephen begins with a confession of the titular character (played by Gomathi Shankar who has also co-written), and what follows is the police procedural. We are also introduced to an extremely toxic, dysfunctional, and abusive household of Stephen in the first half, that you almost side with Stephen. But that is not all the movie is about, and it surprises you until the very end. Kuberan and Vijayashree who play Stephen's parents, immensely contribute to the sinisterly world building of the protagonist. As you begin to feel that the film is on to something, the latter half in the post-interval block begins to wither the movie. For a film that showcases its protagonist from the darker side of the world, and immensely bestowed with psychotic characteristics, the writing merely had to support his psychological thoughts and continue it. While the film balances the case and the investigation, it missed out on making certain characters fleshed out. One of them being Stephen’s girlfriend Krithika (Shrisha) who gets to know about her partner’s vile past. What she does in the aftermath comes across both underwhelming and disjointed, standing out from the flavour that the film has been offering since then.

Also read: Stephen movie 2025: Release date, plot, OTT platform; Everything you need to know about Tamil psycho thriller

Stephen is also a film that targets the low-hanging fruits first by checking the ingredients of a crime-psycho thriller movie, like with the investigation probe, a few detours and misleads. And once it gets you hooked to the genre, the film unwraps its real quirks. But unfortunately, this takes the film as long as post-climax for the final reveal. Does Stephen really come out clean with the nine murders is something for you to watch and find out, but a reveal that causes a shift in perspectives, makes you look at the film in a different shade, something that would have been better, had the film explored a little ahead of post-climax. Nevertheless, Stephen aims at a mind-bending character study and eventually succeeds in it for as much as it can.

Debutant director Mithun showcases a clarity in the making, and with humble settings and few characters, creates an impact of a chilling story. In a plethora of serial killer and psycho thriller stories, Stephen manages to stand out. But at the same time, the writing lacks clarity that it leaves more answers unattended. A post-credit scene that involves an unanswered question, can you leave you mildly confused as well. But all that said, Mithun and Gomathi Shankar emerge out as distinct voices, even as their writing demands a little more finesse.

Stephen movie verdict:

Stephen is an engaging psycho thriller which honestly wants to stir away from the cliches of the genre. It deserves a shot of viewing for the humbleness it comes with. But it isn’t flawless either. The film, while escaping the cliches of serial killer genre, becomes a victim when it goes fat-stretched to be unique. Still a decent attempt.