A few weeks ago, Netflix announced six original projects in Tamil and Telugu as part of its expansion into the South Indian market. Its first release, the serial killer thriller Stephen, has started streaming on the platform today.
Directed by debutant Mithun Balaji, Stephen features Gomathi Shankar and Smruthi Venkat in lead roles. The film is now available on Netflix in five languages, including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi.
Despite Netflix acquiring the project, the film created little buzz. Many viewers were unaware of its release, and the team failed to build anticipation ahead of the premiere.
Those who watched the film are sharing mixed responses. Viewers feel the plot is solid, but the team failed to sustain intensity due to a flat screenplay.
They also pointed out that several scenes feel repetitive, and the film becomes draggy within minutes. Many conclude that Stephen ends up as a very average watch.
Since Netflix backed the film, some expected a worthwhile experience. Instead, Stephen has largely disappointed viewers. The mixed reviews have also raised doubts about the platform’s upcoming original projects, given that the first release itself has underperformed.
It remains to be seen how Stephen fares on the OTT platform in the coming days and whether the other Netflix originals can meet audience expectations and deliver successful results.
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