Katie Says Goodbye

Loves this film and was surprised to see the low ratings. After watching it has occupied my mind in a way few films or shows can. I spent the duration of the film rooting for Katie and hoping for her to get that wonderful happy ever after. Her character is intriguing and I cannot decide if she is genuinely optimistic and upbeat or if this is some type of sophisticated defence mechanism. Was she truly in love with her boyfriend or did she project her desire to be in love onto the first bland neutral person to come along? Is this why his character is so dull? In short, as with all good films, this one left me analysing, wondering and most importantly, wanting more

Definitely not for everyone, and I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. But it's well made, and Olivia Cooke gives a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

all things considered, I have to go back to "Baghdad café" to find the same treatment of the atmosphere, the characters and the same emotions, (can sometimes be awkwardly excessive) special mention for Olivia Cooke, a great actress pity for those who did not understand the end.

My star rating is for Olivia Cooke, who keeps your eyes riveted on her throughout. It's not about beauty or sexiness; it's a type of magnetism that's hard to explain. Hopefully, she will be in some better films in the future. Not that this one is all bad, it's just that it's so grim that it becomes overwhelming. It's like the writer kept thinking, "OK, what terrible thing can I do to her next?" It's a film that aims for hard core realism, yet it's totally unrealistic. Katie's unrelenting naivete is unrealistic; the nasty men are unrealistic; the school teacher, the cop, the landlord, the mother--Good grief, this has to be the most evil town in cinema history. Even the one decent guy, played convincingly by Jim Belushi, is not entirely without culpability. Mary Steenburgen fares well as a caring surrogate mother figure, in contrast to all the detestable people in Katie's life. Watch this one with skepticism, and don't expect a happy ending. But keep an eye out for Olivia Cooke. She can really act.

It's heavy themes may not be handled in the most careful way, but its emotional story and Olivia Cooke's superb lead performance make this film worth watching.

A lot of critics are being myopic, if not outright hypocritical, about their reviews, apparently depending on where the film comes from and whether their white/West privileged guilt kicks in or not. To bash "Katie Says Goodbye" (which, granted, isn't so good) as being 'nearly 90 minutes of terrible things happening to the protagonist', or saying 'the lead character is so utterly guileless and innocent and kindhearted -- she's essentially a smiley face with a "KICK ME" sign taped to her back while heaping nothing but praise on "House of Hummingbird" is absurd bs. "HoH" is just as relentlessly miserable as "Katie...", but it's even more troubling and a friggin' bummer. So that makes it that much better, that's it's more depressing and worse to the lead? Both are movies with the same issues that could've been solid, impressive films, imo.

Slut-Shaming: The Movie! I think Kimber Myers of the times said it best: "Torture porn is kinder to its victims than 'Katie Says Goodbye' is to its heroine."

Every minute somewhere a flower gets crushed. "Katie Says Goodbye" gives us a glimpse of life through the lens of a crushed flower. Kudos to everyone involved in making this movie.

This movie was truly a miserable, frustrating experience, this poor spineless female allows herself to be abused by every single person in her life... one would think that there may be a reward for the nobility she shows in her refusal to implicate the guilty, thieves, rapist, child abusers, despicable people without one redeeming quality anywhere... does she get justice? no. does she learn any lessons.... no.. just rides off into a sunset of more gluttony of punishment.. granted the actress plays this idiot child well, but save yourself avoid.... avoid....

A believable heartbreaker, very well cast. Acting was superb. Invest the time in seeing this sleeper. I guarantee it.