By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Adam Rehmeier
Starring: Juan Silva | Kyle Gallner | Kyra Sedgwick | P.J. Sosko | Samara Wearving
Year: 2026
Running time: 105
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33365126
Brett says: “It may be fitting for this film to have two words in its title with the second word mimicking the first since the premise contained within is nothing new in itself either. A con man rolls up into rural Texas with conning on his mind and gets busted by local ‘scholar’ Caroline at her job at a filling station. Of course, a man so cunning that he can con the rest of the inferior-minded world and doesn’t need anyone is going to fall for her and her astuteness, right? And since he’s so brooding, whispery, and knowledgeable about how the world really works and all, he doesn’t have to have ‘James Dean’ engraved on his jacket to win her over.
“After what it is as quick of a fall-for-you encounter as possible, the ‘Conning for Dummies’ handbook is introduced via personal tutor and, of course, mastered by our new apprentice in a matter of just a few playful team-building retreats. Not to fear, however, there is plenty of time for obligatory sex interludes to make sure we know these guys are really into each other — I counted three and just stopped.
“The plot points were overall strained, cliche, and tropey with a lot of reliance on the audience to just give the benefit of the doubt over and over again. There are plenty of films that do this and plenty of them that are enjoyed by the masses, so this is not to say that anything easy to follow is automatically unworthy of appreciation. After some reflection, it’s seems likely that the film is a grab at the fact that younger generations may not have a BONNIE AND CLYDE or WILD AT HEART for themselves, and they’re not going to go digging for either of those or their likenesses, so it could be timely in that regard. Pulling in familiar faces for leading roles that can transfer their similar appeal from base-emotions, big-studio horror films seems like a way to reach those targets as well.
“It’s not that simple premises and simple scripts can’t achieve at high levels. There is just no style or substance to help sustain it here beyond color by numbers storytelling for this viewer, which is by no means wrong in of itself, but if one is looking for something different, this is just not the place to look. Taking chances and taking risks in films also come with their own hurdles to overcome, so inasmuch as the contrivances are forehead slaps for some, there is something to be said for reliance on familiarity for an overall shared experience here that’s sure to appeal to many.
“2 CATS OUT OF 5”
Tom responds: “It so wanted to be so much more without any teeth. Good looking film with a great performance by Hugo’s niece, but she is asked to do too much with so little. Kyle Gallner, so good in STRANGE DARLING is saddled with the most ‘out of left field’ undeveloped character.
Peter says: “Bonnie and Clyde is one of my favorite movies ever, and while there have been a bajillion copycats since, Carolina Caroline is an excellent bajillion-and-oneth approach.
“Samara Weaving plays Caroline, a wide-eyed young woman living in a podunk town in Texas as hired help at a gas station. Enter: Oliver. Played by a charming Kyle Gallner, Caroline immediately picks up his clever attempt at conning the gas station attendant at the register, and slowly the two develop a smoky relationship as their mutual desire for an ‘outlaw adventure’ gets more and more out of hand.
“It’s not an original premise, but I loved the spark between the performers, with a great script that felt full-on Soderbergh. With a stacked country soundtrack featuring everything from Patsy Cline to Chris Stapleton, intense, cinematic set pieces, and a juicy character study that gives Gallner and Weaving a true acting showcase without being limited by the horror genre (as well as an incredible single-scene performance from Kyra Sedgwick), Carolina Caroline is the kind of hugely entertaining film that almost makes you want to drop everything and pick up the con man life… until it REALLY doesn’t.”
“It all makes sense when it’s revealed that she was abandoned by her mother at a young age. She was so desperately trying to fill the void left by that, while also trying to prove to herself and others that she was worthy. Her father, a steady, unwavering presence in her life, really loves her. She doesn’t quite know what to do with that love, since he’s playing both roles as mom and dad. She wants it to be enough, because he deserves to feel like enough. But she’s also hurting and insistent on meeting her mother.
“Driven by Oliver, literally and figuratively, after some time learning to quick-change and grift.. Caroline decides to go to Carolina to find her mom. The payoff wasn’t what she expected, and with a feeling of nothing left to lose, she decides to go higher stakes with their crimes.
“This film turns into a high-speed, dizzying joyride that makes you wonder if Caroline will ever want to, or be able to, get off the road. 4/5 cats”