Skincare is a feature length thriller directed by Austin Peters, who also wrote it alongside Deering Regan and Sam Freilich. It is loosely based on a true story. It stars Elizabeth Banks as famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (a fictional character based on Dawn DaLuise). She has gotten everything she ever wanted- putting her entire life into her brand, only for a similar business to start right next to her. Things get even worse when she learns that all of her clients received a bizarre email from her account, which sends her down a horrific rabbit hole.
The film is brilliant in a lot of areas. Elizabeth Banks’s performance is phenomenal. I really believed her as her character, especially when she panics- her performance is so visceral that you can really feel what she feels. The costuming and set design really bring you into the setting- I particularly love the set for Goldman’s business; which has a very bougie feel to it. On top of this, the plot is gripping and incredibly interesting. At times it shocked me with the subject matter, and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.
There is also a lot of great directing and cinematography to be found throughout the film. The way certain scenes are shot amp up the suspense, and make the audience feel the same paranoia as the central character. It’s difficult to find a specific example without spoiling the film. This film really keeps you on edge the whole time; you may anticipate what could happen next but are invested in the characters and worry for them. It’s shocking but also very intriguing. One detail I really liked was the realism that could be found the production design. Da Luise herself actually stated in an article on “The Cinemaholic” that she “was stunned and in awe of how precise everything (was), from the location (to) the mannerisms and the way in which our salons were both decked out. Somebody really did their homework and did it well.” (Upamanyu Biswas 2024)
Madelyn, Filmmaker Mixer Correspondent
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