'Carolina Caroline' Review
- Cassandra Hager
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Release Date: 06/05/26 [Cinemas]
Genre: Crime. Drama. Romance. Thriller.
MPAA: Not Rated.
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures.
Seen for the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival.
The Verdict: A Must-See
As a big fan of Adam Rehmeier’s debut film, Dinner in America, I went into this one with high hopes. Carolina Caroline blends Bonnie and Clyde with Crossroads, telling the story of two young lovers who travel across the country committing crimes and searching for a long-lost relative. Samara Weaving stars as Caroline, an almost overly innocent Southern belle-type who is swept up by the irresistibly charming Oliver (Kyle Gallner). As in Dinner in America, the film centers on a romance between two flawed people. That said, while the leads in Carolina Caroline are compelling to watch, they are not nearly as likable as the central pair in Rehmeier’s first film.
Fans of Gallner know what they’re getting themselves into when they watch one of his films, and his swaggering charm appears to have reached a fever pitch. It’s hard to imagine anyone else playing Oliver, as he’s pretty much nabbed the corner market on smooth criminals. Gallner's great working relationship with Rehmeier was obvious in Dinner in America, and the pair continues to have all the makings of an indie Scorsese-DiCaprio pairing in Carolina Caroline.
Kyra Sedgwick knocks her supporting role as a deadbeat mom out of the park, and I enjoyed the action and occasional tension-filled moments. Conversely, Caroline’s character feels slightly misogynistic. I’m sure it was unintentional, but I wonder if a female writer or director could have leaned into her feminine side without making her completely helpless. At times, the film feels like a missed opportunity for what could have been an inspiring damsel-to-heroine arc.
