I’ve always been drawn to films about addiction, which means I’ve seen more movies on the topic than I can count. As a result, an addiction drama has to do something truly out of the ordinary to leave a lasting impression on me. However, that isn’t a fair standard by which to judge a film. What matters most to me when watching a movie about addiction is its authenticity—that it neither glamorizes nor sensationalizes the subject. While it may not do anything particularly groundbreaking, Daniel Blake Schwartz’s Cotton Fever is a solid feature directorial debut. It not only feels astonishingly authentic but is also a raw, gritty portrait of addiction that feels intensely personal for the filmmaker.

Adam Carter Rehmeier’s Carolina Caroline plays like the country companion piece to his punk rock Dinner in America (2020). Like that film, Kyle Gallner once again stars as a troublemaker on the run. However, Carolina Caroline feels like a more mature entry in Rehmeier’s filmography, which is fitting, since one key difference is that this isn’t a coming-of-age story or a comedy like his last two films. This romantic crime thriller is a stylish tale of young lovers on the run that draws easy comparisons to Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and Terrence Malick’s Badlands (1973). While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, the chemistry and commitment of its leads elevate the material, breathing new life into a classic formula. I’m not typically one to resort to superlatives in my reviews, but Carolina Caroline might just be the sexiest movie of the year.