Phoenix Film Festival: 'Carolina Caroline' Showcases Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner's Talents

The 90s-set romantic crime thriller delivers a grounded take on the Bonnie and Clyde story.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:51pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme, abstract close-up photograph featuring shattered glass and glittering sequins in high-contrast studio lighting, conceptually representing the visual style and emotional tone of the film Carolina Caroline.The gritty glamour of a bank-robbing road trip is captured in this abstract close-up of shattered glass and glittering sequins.Phoenix Today

Carolina Caroline follows Caroline Daniels (Samara Weaving), a Texas gas station worker in the 1990s, who falls for a drifter and grifter named Oliver (Kyle Gallner). The two embark on a cross-country road trip to South Carolina, robbing banks along the way to fund Caroline's search for her estranged mother. Despite the familiar premise, the film delivers a surprisingly sensitive and thoughtful take on the classic Bonnie and Clyde story, anchored by compelling performances from its two leads.

Why it matters

Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner are two talented actors who have yet to receive the mainstream recognition they deserve. Carolina Caroline provides them with a platform to showcase their dramatic range and on-screen chemistry, in a genre-blending film that offers a fresh spin on the bank-robbing road trip narrative.

The details

Director Adam Rehmeier and screenwriter Tom Dean craft a 90s-set romantic crime thriller that avoids the typical schlocky or over-the-top trappings of the genre. Instead, they deliver a grounded, character-driven story that focuses on the evolving relationship between Caroline and Oliver as they turn to bank robbery to fund their journey. The film features stylish bank heist sequences, a beautifully lived-in visual aesthetic, and strong supporting performances from the likes of Jon Gries and Kyra Sedgwick.

  • Carolina Caroline will be released in theaters on Friday, June 5, 2026.

The players

Samara Weaving

An acclaimed actress known for her roles in films like Azrael and Strange Darling, Weaving delivers a career-best performance as the film's lead, Caroline Daniels.

Kyle Gallner

A talented character actor who shines as Oliver, the drifter and grifter who becomes Caroline's partner in crime and love interest.

Adam Rehmeier

The director of Carolina Caroline, known for his genre-blending approach to filmmaking.

Tom Dean

The screenwriter who crafted the story for Carolina Caroline, delivering a fresh spin on the classic Bonnie and Clyde narrative.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“When I don't know anything about a movie and I see that the two leads are Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner, that's really all you need to say to get me in a seat. They're both fantastic actors that sadly haven't gotten the A-list recognition they really deserve.”

— Hunter V Norris, Critic

“Weaving's sympathetic appearance goes a long way in influencing our sympathies, especially as she clearly has so much trauma she's keeping under wraps.”

— Hunter V Norris, Critic

“Gallner also puts in some career-best work. He gets a couple of juicy monologues and opportunities to show off his unhinged acting he's so adept at, but like the character of Caroline does for Weaving, Oliver allows Gallner to display some deeply affecting dramatic work.”

— Hunter V Norris, Critic

What’s next

Carolina Caroline will have its world premiere at the Phoenix Film Festival on June 1, 2026, before its wider theatrical release on June 5.

The takeaway

Carolina Caroline is a thoughtful and grounded take on the classic Bonnie and Clyde story, elevated by the standout performances of Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner. The film's sensitive approach to the material, combined with its stylish execution, makes it a must-see for fans of character-driven crime thrillers.