Skincare (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks) is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line, but her personal and work lives are challenged when rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her store. She starts to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend Jordan (Lewis Pullman) she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life.

My Take – It is fair to say that every business has its competition, and while profits are the end game, surface-level reputation does help to understand the difference between success and failure. To provide a taste of the same from outside, this debut feature from music video director Austin Peters takes us into the cutthroat world of beautification and wraps it up in a mystery.

Loosely inspired by the 2014 case of Dawn DaLuise, who was arrested and later acquitted for a murder-for-hire plot against a rival beauty guru, the film offers a unique take on the beauty industry, blending humor and darkness effectively. Resulting in a campy, fun entertainer that works as a part satire, part thriller, and part noir.

Sure, it isn’t the most complicated or intellectual thriller out there, in fact it is highly predictable. But director Peters, who co-wrote the script with first-time screenwriters Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, ensure the screenplay is fueled by tension and unease throughout.

Plus, the comedic elements interjected as character traits helps keep the proceedings fresh while maintaining the intensity. Shot in just 18 days, the trio show promise for delivering twisted stories, but most importantly, it gives Elizabeth Banks the kind of role she deserves more.

Set in 2013 Los Angeles, the story follows Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks), an aesthetician, who years after treating stars to facials is on the verge of rolling out her own line of Italian made facial products. However, stress is bubbling to the surface. She owes the landlord (John Billingsley) back rent on her studio and her financial backer has recently deserted her.

To make matters worse, right after she has finished taping a segment for a local TV talk show hosted by Brett (Nathan Fillion), a new tenant moves in across the way and upends her life. Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) is a scrappy upstart in the beauty world, and their first meeting is prickly at best. Soon, she is losing clients and parking space.

But even Hope’s assistant, Marine (Michaela Jaè Rodriguez), who acts as her assistant and publicity manager, reacts as strongly as Hope when a vicious online hack attack goes beyond the business and into the realm of personal, jeopardizing the business and Hope’s reputation.

Forcing Hope to enlist the help of Jordan (Lewis Pullman), a flirty, tanned and toned 20-something life coach to sort out Angel who she believes is the culprit responsible for this deliberate sabotage.

From there it’s a pretty rapid downward spiral. While the audience might see Hope’s downfall coming, that doesn’t make it any less fun to watch. Mainly as director Austin Peters takes a thriller approach to the story, where we see the mystery intertwined with the unraveling of Hope’s sanity, something noticeably amps the anxiety throughout. And the film rarely stumbles over its propulsive rhythm.

Yet, it’s surprising the script didn’t use the opportunity to confront the uglier aspects of the titular trade. The film conveniently ignores the controversial treatments, and various other grotesqueries of celebrity skincare. By exploring the physical reality of what Hope does might have added an icky layer to the proceedings.

Also, finding out more about Hope’s hidden past, the supporting characters, and the big lives everyone hints at would have made the story more compelling and helped the characters feel more real. Though the film avoids clunky exposition, it could have dispensed a few more details to make the final sequence hit harder. Nevertheless, the performances keeps us glued throughout its 94 minutes run time.

Elizabeth Banks delivers one of her most impactful performances to date as she brilliantly combines her comedic and dramatic chops. Lewis Pullman shows that he’s increasingly becoming one of the most exciting young actors working today as he sells a complex character with ease.

Luis Gerardo Méndez brings a smug yet vulnerable energy to his small role, while Nathan Fillion is at his squirmy best and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is decent. On the whole, ‘Skincare’ is a flawed yet fun thriller anchored by Elizabeth Banks’ performance.