'Carolina Caroline' Review: A story similar to a Springsteen song

[namiks]

It has been six years since Adam Carter Rehmeier released Diner in America, a film that I absolutely loved for its total chaos and unique indie story that cinemas felt so starved of back in 2020. I was surprised to see that in 2025 he made another film, this one, and I instantly knew I had to watch it and that I'd love it. Indies like these are certainly few and far between now, where absurdist levels of humour are often thrown aside. I remember recently seeing someone on the Internet mention how even genuine comedy films these days have been largely ignored for too long. Adam Carter Rehmeier does a nice blend where his films contain a nice sum of genre, coming of age and growth, mixed with the elements of comedy served as an icing.

Carolina Caroline is similar in this regard, it's a film that focuses much on character growth. Utilising characters that are often hard to sympathise with based on their past or current actions. I love it due to how we end up loving these characters anyway, as it shows their personalities beyond the bad actions, where sometimes they may even do some good here and there. It balances that question of morals very well. As is the usual case here, Carolina Caroline has two broken characters connect and find themselves a little more through their differences in personality but also their connections in being rather broken people.

The film was shot largely with anamorphic lenses with a wide aspect ratio, and this definitely gives it that more cinematic appeal that is often missing from certain indies. Where they tend to usually stick with something simple. I was curious and saw that generally consumer available gear was also used in shooting the film, making it more impressive how much of it relied on a shorter budget. Though this also shines a light on how much budget-tier anamorphic filmmaking gear has come in recent years. Carolina Caroline doesn't feel low budget or indie at all though, the colours are beautiful. The locations, rural and showcasing that on-the-run nature, keep the film's pacing fresh between the moments of chaos and the moments of winding down, character development and dialogue.

While Kyle Gallner is perfectly cast, yet again, for his role. The film is more about the character Caroline and her attempts to find her mother, as the two scam their way through each day for money. I really liked that story that showed the growth and the fragility of the two characters. It has an aspect of youth to it that shows the longing for life and adventure people have, especially those that live in particularly boring or stale lifestyles. Where the familiarity of a quiet space has them reaching a point of spontaneity and curiosity that suddenly propels them forward. Where living is being in the moment, taking risks and rejecting the norm.

It even reminded me a little bit of Springsteen's songs, the ones that tell stories of adventure. Driving through the open country and making dumb decisions. And I'd say that's ultimately the best way to describe Carolina Caroline.