Steve (2025) review

In 1996, a documentary film crew is sent to Stanton Wood Manor, an experimental "rehabilitative school" for exceptionally troubled boys run by head instructor Steve (Cillian Murphy) and his team, except the students, which include Shy (Jay Lycurgo), Nabz (Ahmed Ismail) and Benny (Araloyin Oshunremi), are largely uncontrollable, the place might be shut down over financial concerns (it's expensive to maintain) and Steve is battling substance abuse.  While it's important to bring attention to these psychologically fragile and impulsive young adults and the unbelievable amount of stress their educators and counselors undergo to try and treat them - I've worked with SED (Severe Emotional Disturbance) children before, and they're tough - this is overdramatic, stylistically excessive (the handheld cameras make it worse) and the message is a bit befuddling: it's trying to argue that these are "unique" individuals and deserve "special care," but any reasonable viewer can tell that they're beyond repair and require extensive psychiatric intervention, and I was personally rooting for the establishment to be closed for the safety of everyone.  The third act only increases the lunacy, as one of the lads attempts suicide (Virginia Woolf-style) and requires saving ... and then Steve returns to his nice home with his wife and daughters and the audience is expected to think he's on his way to recovery (which is unlikely).