2025 Southern Gothic Crime Thriller, Starring Samara Weaving, Is Coming to Netflix
Bethany Gemmell (Sun, October 11, 2026 at 11:49 PM UTC)
2 min read
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A Modern Twist on the Classic Southern Gothic Genre
A critically acclaimed film from 2025, Carolina Caroline, revives the classic Southern Gothic genre with a modern thriller twist. It stars Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Bill & Ted Face the Music) as Caroline Daniels, whose desire to leave her small Texas town brings her into the orbit of a charismatic con man, weaving a path of crime and passion across the American Southeast.
The Cast and Soundtrack
Alongside Weaving, Carolina Caroline stars Kyle Gallner (The Haunting in Connecticut, Jennifer's Body), Jon Gries (Napoleon Dynamite, The White Lotus), and Kyra Sedgwick (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Born on the Fourth of July). The romantic-thriller genre hybrid was directed by Adam Carter Rehmeier, known for his films Dinner in America (2020) and Snack Shack (2024).
The film boasts an all-star, country-filled soundtrack with songs from Loretta Lynn, Jason Isbell, and Chris Stapleton.
Critical Acclaim and Netflix Release
After premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2025, Carolina Caroline had a limited theatrical release, grossing $300,000 at the box office. It received critical acclaim, with a 90% "Certified Fresh" score among professional reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
Rotten Tomatoes' official critics' consensus reads:
"Traversing a classic crime formula with an atmosphere that's as sweltering as Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner's chemistry, Carolina Caroline injects its doomed love story with an invigorating shot of adrenaline."
Now available on Netflix next month, Carolina Caroline has the potential to attract fans of thrillers, country music, and Southern Gothic enthusiasts.
Carolina Caroline arrives on Netflix on November 1. International territories may vary.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Oct 11, 2026, in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.