Foibles Review: Strangely Compelling and Oddly Cathartic!

July 27, 2025August 11, 2025 Surya Komal 1 Comment Carina Conti, Foibles, John Karna, Ryan Oksenberg

Few films are as willing to wade into emotional chaos as Foibles, a jagged, deeply personal dark comedy from writer-director Ryan Oksenberg. This isn’t a story with clean arcs or tidy resolutions—instead, it leans into the mess, and the volatility that come with codependency and addiction. What emerges is a satirical but strangely sincere portrait of two people tethered by dysfunction, told with the kind of nerve that invites laughter even as your stomach tightens.

At the heart of the story is Jordan, a man haunted by a hero complex, who bails out his ex-girlfriend Gabrielle after a DUI arrest. Rather than stepping back, he hurls himself into her recovery—on his own terms. His twisted plan to help her “drink herself sober” sets the stage for a bizarre experiment in caretaking, control, and denial. What unfolds is both disturbing and darkly comic: a co-dependent vortex that grows more surreal with every sip.

What truly elevates Foibles is the sheer commitment of its lead performers. John Karna brings a fragile desperation to Jordan, walking a fine line between tragic and absurd. His eyes constantly flicker with uncertainty—whether from guilt, obsession, or a misguided sense of purpose. Carina Conti, as Gabrielle, is nothing short of magnetic. She veers from sharp-tongued chaos to sobering vulnerability with a kind of fearless fluidity. Their dynamic is unpredictable, volatile, and deeply compelling. Because the entire film orbits around their push-pull chemistry, the success of Foibles rests on their shoulders—and both actors rise to the challenge with gutsy, all-in performances.

I also have to commend the tone of this movie—it’s incredibly distinct. There’s a wild unpredictability to Foibles from start to finish. It never settles into one emotional register, constantly shifting between moments of manic comedy, raw discomfort, and surreal introspection. That chaos is clearly intentional, and it works in the film’s favor. Ryan Oksenberg deserves serious credit for this. His vision is unflinching and original, and he takes a very brave creative risk by crafting a story that refuses to play by the usual emotional or narrative rules. It’s messy by design, and that kind of boldness stands out.

That said, Foibles isn’t going to be for everyone. If you don’t naturally gravitate toward anxiety-laced, emotionally confrontational storytelling, this film might feel more exhausting than enlightening. It demands patience and a willingness to sit with discomfort. I also felt the runtime stretched just a bit too long for the story it was telling. Some scenes start to feel repetitive, which slightly undercuts the overall impact. A tighter edit could have enhanced its punch.

Still, these are small criticisms in the face of what Foibles achieves. It’s not just a film—it’s an emotional purge disguised as a comedy. Thanks to fearless performances and Oksenberg’s uncompromising direction, Foibles turns codependency into something strangely compelling and oddly cathartic. It’s a car crash of a film—and I mean that as a compliment. You don’t look away. You lean in.