Carolina Caroline
 [Showtimes and trailer at Tropiccinema.com]

Adam Carter Rehmeier directs a type of Bonnie & Clyde film in “Carolina Caroline.” Stern, apprehensive and vivid with a helping of social commentary, the film is held together with its solid leads in Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving.

Caroline (Samara Weaving) works as a gas station attendant. One day, she sees Oliver (Kyle Gallner) a dark, somewhat sinister, yet oddly charming hustler enter the station. 

Oliver pulls a shortchange scam in front of the clerk, making off with extra cash which infuriates Caroline but the nonchalance and spontaneous charisma of Oliver delight her. She pines for variety and agrees to accompany him on a road trip.

Oliver teaches her the art of his trade: sleight of hand, carjacking and armed robbery.

The two begin a crime spree across the Southern United States. The main goal for Caroline is finding her estranged mother (Kyra Sedgwick).

Caroline takes to the role of bank robbing well, despite having an unfortunate monstrous voice.

After an overzealous cop killing by Oliver, Caroline learns that her lover is violent, capricious and unpredictable. 

Caroline herself becomes hunted.

Oliver is tough, unsentimental and somewhat cerebral. He doesn’t believe in Free Will, asserting that we are an extension of our chemistry and ancestry. Oliver is a Stoic, yet he is also energetic and romantic.

At times, the film veers into the territory of Charles Bukowski’s screenwriting of “Barfly.” Kyra Sedgwick is comical, frightening and emotional by turns.

Existentialism is the dominant tone and while one might not cheer for these two, one does care; they are spirited if not admirable. Caroline quickly runs out of options. 

There have been countless films in this mode from “Bonnie & Clyde” and “Badlands” to “Something Wild.” The local color is quirky and the pathos is impactful. This antihero film fits well into the genre of criminal road films.

Write Ian at ianfree1@icloud.com

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