There's something irresistible about watching two people fall headlong into chaos together. From Bonnie and Clyde to True Romance, the best crime romances make every reckless decision feel like a thrill ride—even when you know the brakes are about to fail. That combustible energy is exactly what director Adam Carter Rehmeier is aiming for in Carolina Caroline, a neon-drenched outlaw love story starring Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner.
As part of our Summer Preview coverage, ShowtimeSpot is thrilled to exclusively reveal a new first-look image of Weaving from the film. The photo captures her character Caroline in a moment of quiet intensity, hinting at the emotional volatility that critics have already praised following the movie's premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Collider's review called Weaving “effervescent,” and the buzz suggests she and Gallner have real chemistry to burn.
What Is 'Carolina Caroline' About?
The film follows Caroline, a small-town young woman who gets swept up by Oliver (Gallner), a seasoned con man with a charming smile and a dangerous lifestyle. What starts as a whirlwind romance quickly escalates into a life of scams, quick escapes, and increasingly risky decisions. The movie leans hard into colorful Americana aesthetics, with a heightened tone that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Kyra Sedgwick also stars in this stylish crime romance that promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Rehmeier, who previously collaborated with Gallner on the cult favorite Dinner in America, knows how to get intense performances from his actors. In an interview with Collider, he revealed just how committed Weaving became during filming. During an early robbery scene involving a child actor, the armorer loaded the gun with deliberate slowness, and Weaving was already welling up with tears. “We roll the first thing, Sam starts screaming, and she just bursts into tears,” Rehmeier recalled. “There's that part of me that's just like, ‘We can roll on that. Get that!’ Why waste it at that point, you know?”
Gallner also spoke about the creative freedom Rehmeier gives his cast. “Adam has always taken a shot on me, where he will let me do things that most people will not let me do,” Gallner said. “He's helped me, A., as an actor, get to play these roles, but B., also sort of change the narrative around who I am and how people see me as a performer.” That trust is evident in the raw, unpredictable energy that both actors bring to the screen.
For fans of crime romance, Carolina Caroline looks like a true throwback to the genre's glory days—think Natural Born Killers meets a road trip through a vintage postcard. If you're craving more outlaw love stories, check out our list of 8 romance series that outshine 'Heated Rivalry' for more recommendations.
And if you're in the mood for a different kind of crime drama, Jon Bernthal's Punisher crime thriller is currently dominating Disney+ as his MCU return looms.
Carolina Caroline hits theaters on June 5. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more exclusives from the biggest movies of the upcoming season.
