CAROLINA CAROLINE
Starring: Samara Weaving, Kyle Gallner, Kyra Sedgwick, and Jon Gries
Director: Adam Carter Rehmeier
NICK
Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner are two of the more underrated actors working today, and Carolina Caroline is a terrific showcase for both of them to hammer that point home. A modern day Bonnie and Clyde saga, the love story is what takes center stage over the heist elements. The chemistry between Weaving and Gallner is off the charts, as her southern innocence is the perfect counter to his bad boy charm. They’re both sides of a magnet and you can feel the way they’re drawn to each other. It’s sexy, fun, and exciting and may just finally elevate these two in the public eye.
ADRIANO
I could tell you where Carolina Caroline was headed by frame zero. But how does a film recover from being wholly predictable? Being cool as hell, that's how. Through the stylish direction of Adam Carter Rehmeier and the sexy chemistry between Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner, you’re given a believable, steamy romance and an emotionally charged crime thriller through small-town America. The narrative takes little-to-no swings, but the tone and vintage look of the film make up for that in spades, and this became a thoroughly watchable film throughout.
PAIGE
With Carolina Caroline, director Adam Rehmeier crafts his own indie inspired Bonnie and Clyde tale that manages to be both slick, sexy, and undeniably charming. This southern crime spree romance relies heavily on the chemistry between Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner, and my god, their chemistry is through the roof. They’re electric together. Rehmeier’s ‘70s aesthetic really captures the Americana vibe this story is going for. Although the film may not reinvent the genre, the commitment and chemistry from its leads elevates the material and allows it to stand out from the pack.
ROBERT
The romance crime flick is not a novel concept, so insert comparison here for what Carolina Caroline is reminiscent of, and the connective tissue will match. The difference lies in its heart, sweetness, and lack of cynicism. With movies about running cons, there is an inherent expectation of a double-cross or twist, but Adam Rehmeier’s story leaves that to the side. It only uses the cons as a touchpoint for the growth of the imperfect, yet passionate relationship between Caroline (Samara Weaving) and Oliver (Kyle Gallner). It has some beautifully staged shots, particularly during getaways, and the audience isn’t shortchanged on score and performance.
AMARÚ
Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving are two of today’s best blue collar actors. They don’t have star power yet, but you see them leading a film and know something solid is about to happen. It’s because of them that I was able to push through the slow pace of Carolina Caroline’s first act. Lesser actors would be swallowed by the slow build into the duo’s life of crime, but Gallner and Weaving’s individual talent and great chemistry pull it off. This Bonnie and Clyde love story drags at times, making it tough to keep momentum, but these two still deliver something solid.
BODE
Take the Bonnie and Clyde archetype and make it even more southern fried, and you get a pretty clear idea of how Carolina Caroline plays out - from the first few minutes even. But predictability isn’t inherently a bad thing if the execution is there, and for the most part, it is. Director Adam Carter Rehmeier brings enough of his own darkly fun style to the criminal hijinks that ensue, and the chemistry between Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner is so electrifying that they manage to make even the more generic bits work. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, but I’ve seen it done far worse.
This film was reviewed by Nick and Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.