Stephen

The difference attempt in Tamil Cinema. Most of the Tamil audience, maybe not like this movie bcz the tamil directors work with same scripts. So Tamil audience have gotten used to it. This maybe new for them. But it was good attempt. And the second thing is Stephen (hero) his acting was superb like a experience actor mentality.

"Stephen" is a distinctive and highly appreciated addition to Tamil cinema, presenting a different type of psycho-thriller story with an absolutely twistful climax that truly delivers, primarily held together by the brilliant acting of the lead actor, Gomathi Shankar.

While all the cast and crew have done a very good job in their execution, the story felt like it was missing something to fit the emotional depths of its characters, and the narrative sometimes felt like it was somehow trying to rush to the climax.

Furthermore, the film's gritty realism means the violence is a bit more intense than expected, but its unique plot and Shankar's compelling performance make it a memorable, if emotionally reserved, cinematic experience.

Movie ends with a leads scenes to next part as per audience expectaions.

For the reviewers who talk about unknown, amateurish actors, compare that to the seasoned cast of thug life. They could not avoid the oncoming disaster.

Songs were nice and so were the main actors. Story stalled around 2/3rd of the movie but resumed soon enough.

The twists and turns made it worth the roughly 2 hour long movie.

Mithun Balaji directs this OTT-released dark thriller, presenting an exceptionally well-crafted screenplay. The film's experimental narrative is anchored by Gomathi Shankar's tremendous, applause-worthy performance as Stephan Jebaraj (a role he co-wrote with Balaji). The palpable dedication and commitment from the entire team make this a mandatory watch.

Stephen is a psychological thriller film that relies on familiar tropes, cliched ideas, but reinvents them or inverts them to create a unique screenplay. Written by Mithun and Gomathi Shankar (both on debut), have taken an experimental route in a genre that most filmmakers would stay away from, on their debuts. There's always a twist around the corner, and the need to sit through few sequences pay off, few don't. But the climax compensates for all that, which might divide the audience; I liked it though.

Performances of lead actor Gomathi Shankar carry the film throughout, supported by secondary characters in Kuberan(Stephen's unnamed dad- interesting) and Smruthi (psychiatrist).

Dialogues could've been sharper for secondary characters.

Technically Stephen is a sound film, but the constrained budget is visible at places.

Visually the film guides you into the dark unexplored parts of Stephen's mind, Background music your trusted companion.

Though the film is mostly taking place in Coimbatore, it doesn't serve a pivotal purpose. For a debutant film (from a team of debutants), Stephen mostly surprises you, leaves you wanting more (sssshhh... sequel?), but for a film like this, its best to not see reviews with spoilers.