‘Carolina Caroline’ Review: Classic Lovers-on-the-Run Thriller Shows Why Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner Should Be Bigger Stars

Article excerpt

In 'Carolina Caroline,' a small-town Texas woman abandons her dead-end job and aging father for a charismatic criminal drifter, setting up a lovers-on-the-run thriller that borrows liberally from classics like 'Bonnie and Clyde.' The film showcases Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner in roles that reveal why both actors deserve larger careers, Weaving's magnetic presence and Gallner's menacing charm anchor what could have been a predictable premise. Though working within familiar road-movie territory, the film manages to make its well-trodden narrative sing through strong performances and evident craft.