The film stars Samara Weaving (‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’), Kyle Gallner (‘Smile’), Kyra Sedgwick (‘The Closer’), and Jon Gries (‘The White Lotus’).

Related Article: Samara Weaving and More Talk Sequel ‘Ready or Not 2: Here I Come’

Initial Thoughts

Samara Weaving in ‘Carolina Caroline’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.

‘Dinner in America’s director Adam Rehmeier’s new film ‘’Carolina Caroline’ is an exciting and emotional crime thriller in the mold of ‘True Romance,’ ‘Badlands’ and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. The film features a commanding performance from Samara Weaving and a career defining performance from ‘Smile’s Kyle Gallner, who oozes Steve McQueen level cool and charm.

Also excellent is veteran actress Kyra Sedgwick, who in only one scene, practically steals the movie with a once in a lifetime performance that demonstrates her incredible acting range. Rehmeier delivers an impressive film in tone and scope and is certainly a filmmaker worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Story and Direction

Director Adam Carter Rehmeier at the ‘Carolina Caroline’ Los Angeles Premiere on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Vidiots Eagle Theater in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire / JanuaryImages.

The film begins by introducing us to Caroline (Samara Weaving), a gas station attendant in rural Texas who lives with her father (Jon Gries) after her mother (Kyra Sedgwick) abandoned her as a child. One day she meets Oliver (Kyle Gallner), a con-artist who hustles Caroline’s employer. The two quickly fall in love and decide to travel the South together to locate her mom, all the while executing scams along the way including small bank robberies.

Oliver and Caroline eventually find her mother, and to Caroline’s disappointment, she is a raging alcoholic and rejects Caroline. Distraught, Caroline encourages Oliver to carry out a string of larger bank robberies, however, when one of the robberies goes terribly wrong, the police and FBI begin a manhunt for the couple. As the authorities close in, Caroline is forced to choose the law over the love of her life if she wants to survive and stay out of prison.

The script by Tom Dean is simple but powerful and serves as an exciting crime thriller. But Rehmeier’s choice to focus on the relationship between Caroline and Oliver is what really drives the film. Rehmeier also captures a gothic version of the South with his camera, and mixed with his excellent music choices adds to the movie’s dangerous tone.

Cast and Performances

(L to R) Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner in ‘Carolina Caroline’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.

Australian actress Samara Weaving, best known for her role in the ‘Ready or Not’ franchise, gives a commanding yet heartbreaking performance as Caroline. Her transition from a bright-eyed naïve girl to a ruthless bank robber is flawless and she is so captivating on screen that you cannot take your eyes off her. Weaving completely embodies the character and makes it her own and has incredible onscreen chemistry with Gallner.

For his part, Kyle Gallner gives the best performance of his career and shows a side of himself I did not know he possessed. Gallner plays Oliver with an attractive combination of effortless cool and sleazy charm, and much like Weaving, is impossible to take your eyes off. His onscreen chemistry with Weaving is pivotal to the story and is so electric it practically jumps off the screen.

Finally, while she is only in one scene, Kyra Sedgwick gives a winning performance as Caroline’s mother, which looms over the entire film and shows exactly why the actress has been steadily working for the last 40 plus years. Perhaps best known for playing Detective Brenda Leigh Johnson on the now classic TV series ‘The Closer’, where Sedgwick handedly navigated comedy and drama each week, the actress shows off her incredible acting range in this movie with a devastating and heartbreaking scene opposite Weaving.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Kyra Sedgwick in ‘Carolina Caroline’. Photo: Magnolia Pictures.

In the end, ‘Carolina Caroline’ is more than just a crime thriller, it’s a beautifully made and romantic Southern Gothic adventure that features fascinating characters and brilliant performances from the entire cast.

‘Carolina Caroline’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

‘Carolina Caroline’ opens in theaters on June 5th.

What is the plot of ‘Carolina Caroline’?

A young woman (Samara Weaving) skips her small town, in search of her estranged mother (Kyra Sedgwick), alongside a charismatic con man (Kyle Gallner) on the run from the law. The duo leaves a wave of crime and passion behind them as they hustle their way through the Southeast.

Who is in the cast of ‘Carolina Caroline’?

• Samara Weaving as Caroline
• Kyle Gallner as Oliver
• Jon Gries as Hank
• Kyra Sedgwick as Deborah

Samara Weaving at the ‘Carolina Caroline’ Los Angeles Premiere on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at Vidiots Eagle Theater in Los Angeles. Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire / JanuaryImages.

List of Samara Weaving Movies and TV Shows:

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