Overacting is on full display in Goodbye Butterfly, though it’s hard to place all the blame on the actors—the script shoulders much of the responsibility. Ironically, the 5-year-old actress outshines the entire cast, delivering the most believable performance in the film.
The movie’s beginning feels lazy and rushed. Instead of taking the time to communicate the storyline effectively, it opts for a montage set to music. In the span of two minutes, an entire year’s worth of events is crammed in, leaving the audience disconnected from the characters’ journeys.
The plot itself is riddled with implausibilities. The grieving father, hell-bent on vengeance for his daughter, enlists his best friend—an ex-con who somehow knows how to dispose of a body without question. It’s baffling that the father trusts him so blindly.
Overall, Goodbye Butterfly tries to deliver a suspenseful thriller but stumbles at almost every turn, making it a frustrating watch.
