We hate to say it, however one in every of Olivia Cooke’s most memorable performances is in a movie that did not deserve the hassle. “Katie Says Goodbye,” the 2016 directorial debut of Wayne Roberts, might have been a difficult and considerate indie drama. But it surely’s a frustratingly empty and merciless expertise, squandering its gifted solid.

Cooke stars as Katie, a 17-year-old who cannot wait to place her small-town life within the rear-view mirror. Working part-time shifts on the native diner and intercourse work on the aspect, she financially helps her wayward mom whereas attempting to avoid wasting as much as transfer to San Francisco. When ex-convict Bruno (Christopher Abbott) arrives on the town, Katie believes she might have discovered a associate to hitch her goals of massive metropolis life — however destiny has different plans.

On paper, it is a promising premise. However how Roberts’ story performs out — scene after scene of Katie being handled with betrayal and abuse by nearly all people she is aware of — fails to quantity to something emotionally or narratively significant. One-dimensional characters, a sequence of sexual assault bafflingly shot as a single take, and an uninspiring conclusion make “Katie Says Goodbye” a forgettable (and, at worst, insulting) movie.

Should you or anybody you understand has been a sufferer of sexual assault, assist is obtainable. Go to the Rape, Abuse & Incest Nationwide Community web site or contact RAINN’s Nationwide Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).