Parents' Guide to Steve

From the opening scene, it's clear Murphy's titular character is a broken man—he stares, glassy eyed into the news crew's camera screaming for some kind of escape. As Steve follows his day leading up to that moment, we gradually learn that that escape tends to come in the form of prescription drugs and alcohol. But even those don't bring much reprieve as Steve is yanked from one explosive moment to the next. Whether he's breaking up a fight in the corridor, trying to protect the students from the film crew's prying questions, fighting against the school's impending closure, or trying to finally get to everyone he assures is "top of my list," just watching him is exhausting, both physically and emotionally. The movie is an intense watch, from start to finish, barely stopping for breath during its 93-minute runtime. Performances are strong across the board, and they lend an authenticity to the story that often feels like watching the events unfold in a real school. Lycurgo particularly stands out as Shy, a troubled teen full of hurt and anger who's teetering on the ledge between salvation and self-destruction. It's hard not to get pulled in by Steve's dedication to these teens, who the rest of society has given up hope on. The movie is equal parts moving, frustrating, and overwhelming—its sheer energy making it hard to look away from the screen or the issues it raises.