Explained: Netflix's dark Tamil psychological thriller 'Stephen' and what is it all about

Poster of Tamil Pshychological thriller Stephen

Netflix has added a new Tamil movie called Stephen to its 2025 selection. It's a psychological thriller that looks at the mind of a serial killer. This movie is different from previous whodunits since it shows who the killer is right away, which gets people's attention right away. The real mystery is 'why' Stephen willingly gives himself in to the police after admitting to killing nine people in a terrible way.

The confession that makes us even more interested

The movie starts with the discovery of certain murders, and then Stephen (played by Gomathi Shankar) shockingly gives up. Stephen has no issue confessing, even though he is calm, clear-headed, and oddly calm. The police don't know why he gave up, so officer Michael Thangadurai and psychiatrist Seema start a long psychological investigation. As the inquiry continues on, Stephen starts to explain about his very hard childhood, which was full of abuse, violence, and manipulation.

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A childhood filled with issues and lies that are hard to believe

Stephen talks about how he grew up in a damaged home with an abusive, alcoholic father. He remembers things that made him change his mind, including when his father killed his pet dog and when his father killed his mother. But as the investigation goes on, the police start to see that Stephen's story is full of lies.

At first, it seems like a story about someone being a victim, but as the story goes on, it becomes clear that it is a carefully planned lie meant to test the investigators and control the story.

Watch the Trailer of Stephen: 

The family's secrets are revealed

The movie uses flashbacks to show how Stephen's family has changed their minds on who is to blame. At first, his mother didn't appear like she could help him, but then she became controlling and abusive.

Stephen kills her in a fit of rage because she made him feel awful about himself and told him what to do. His father agrees to take care of him since he loves him no matter what. Stephen ends up killing him as well, leaving behind a trail of lies that even the greatest detectives have trouble tracking.

Love, Loss, and the Start of a Murderer

The book then talks about Stephen's life as an adult in Chennai, where he lives with his girlfriend Krithika. The relationship ends when he tells her about the crimes he has committed. Stephen's madness gets worse when Krithika dies. He starts killing women who look like or remind him of her because he can't get over her death.

Stephen wanted Mary to live because she really cared about other people, but he never really understood why.

The Last Reveal and the Scary Ending

Stephen goes to court and tells the truth about what he did wrong. He obtains a sentence of life in prison. But the last act takes a scary turn. As he goes to jail, Stephen meets his parents, Krithika, and the women he killed. These phony conversations show the complete truth: Stephen did every crime, said every lie, and pulled every trick. He quit as part of a plan to fool the system and eventually get out of jail for 'good behavior.'

A sequel tease, bodies, and secrets

Stephen says he threw the bodies of the victims away in a wilderness where they were never found. After the credits, the movie gets a lot creepier. Someone who is not known sees the news about Stephen and then walks into the same forest under a full moon. The last title card, "Luna – The Night Awakens," makes it plain that there will be a sequel. This means that Stephen's bad times may not be over yet.

Final Thoughts

Stephen is different because he doesn't simply talk about who performed the crimes; he also talks about why they did them.

The movie's unsettling performances and difficult psychological ideas give viewers a dark yet thought-provoking look at lies, misery, and evil that stays with them long after the credits roll.