Stephen Movie Review: The Tamil psychological mystery thriller “Stephen” is now streaming on Netflix, from 5th December onwards, and there is so much to discuss about the film. This Tamil film takes us into the fractured mind of a serial killer. But was it able to ride on the fans’ expectations? That’s what we will find out in this Stephen movie review.
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Stephen Movie Details and Rating
| Premiere on | Netflix |
| Premiere Date | December 5, 2025 |
| Genre | Mystery, Thriller |
| Release Languages | Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam |
| Director | Mithun Balaji |
| Stars | Smruthi Venkat, Shrisha, Amruth Balaji, Harija, and others |
| Rating | 2/5 |
Where to watch Stephen Movie?
Stephen Movie Plot
The Stephen movie plot starts with Stephen Jebaraj (Gomathi Shankar), who is a soft-spoken man who has unexpectedly confessed to murdering nine women. Initially, the film looks like a copy of a standard serial-killer narrative that is filled with eerie charm, childhood trauma, and a disturbing pattern of manipulation.
Stephen’s character looks like it is inspired by the actresses to his home with false acting opportunities, and this leads to a series of chilling murders. The early visuals and writing feel routine. Even if it feels amateurish at times, as Stephen’s movie looks like a replay of familiar genre beats about toxic parents, childhood scars, and escalating violence.
However, subtle cues were dropped throughout the investigation. The investigation is led by Inspector Michael (Michael Thangadurai) and criminal psychologist Seema (Smruthi Venkat), which hints at an unseen influence. The final act is the highlight of the show, and it completely rewrites the film’s identity. It is loaded with a brilliant twist that transforms Stephen from a slow-burn psycho-thriller into a bold psychological puzzle that challenges the viewer’s assumptions.
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Stephen Cast Performances
The cast of Stephen is decent, as they contribute significantly to the film’s impact. Casts like:
- Gomathi Shankar (Stephen Jebaraj) has done an amazing job while delivering a chilling, layered performance that oscillates between harmless innocence and terrifying unpredictability.
- Michael Thangadurai (Inspector Michael) was the highlight, as he puts in phenomenal work as the persistent cop who slowly unravels Stephen’s secrets.
- Smruthi Venkat’s (Seema) performance was understated, but it was very powerful as the criminal psychologist whose insights reshape the investigation.
- Vijayashree was very decent. We feel her role of abusive dominance could have been better in the context of the film’s psychological layers.
- Aruldoss is seen as a senior officer role who was guiding the investigation, and he was somewhat successful in adding gravitas to the police procedural segments.
- Vijay Sankaran & Bala Saravanan were seen in smaller roles, but they were important to ground the film’s world, especially in its early chapters.
Writing and Screenplay in Stephen
The writing in Stephen is uneven but ambitious. The initial hour could have been better, as it drags with predictable beats and repetitive flashbacks. However, the script was very good, as it excels in the depiction of trauma, suppression, and the cyclical nature of abuse.
The biggest triumph is the fearless and genre-breaking climax. The climax has probably won it for the film, as it perfectly elevated Stephen’s movie.
Visuals, Direction & Technical
Director Mithun was very innovative, as he wanted to attempt a gritty and unsettling tone but succeeded only partially. The cinematography is flat. The sound design was very poor, as it doesn’t really build the tension required for a serial-killer thriller. The editing also lacks tightness.
However, Stephen shines in specific sequences, especially in the moments that involve flashbacks and the explosive climax.
Personal Opinion: Why Stephen Works Despite Its Flaws
Stephen is a flawed but fascinating thriller. The first half feels slow and basic. However, it was the final act that saved the film. Was Stephen worth watching? I would say it could have been better, but it will surely impress those who love thrillers.
Verdict
In this Stephen movie review, we have found that Stephen is an imperfect display of a bold attempt at a thriller story. Strong performances and a brilliant twist somehow saved a film, but for the most part it suffers from uneven execution.
Stephen is strictly recommended for fans of dark and character-driven thrillers.
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