Skincare is a truly enjoyable film to watch. The director is Austin Peters. Peters also shares writing credits with Sam Freilich, and Deering Regan, From the start until the end you will be gripped by this story. It follows Hope Goldman, played by Elizabeth Banks, an entrepreneur maker of a best-selling line of Skincare products. Most of the story centers around the locale consisting of her Los Angeles boutique and her local stops. It is interesting because while watching Skincare, I kept thinking of Fargo and Neon Demon. In hindsight, I would have to say that there are Donnie Darko vibes present. But believe me when the s*** hits the fan, the characters’ choices quickly add up into a chaotic equation onscreen of betrayal as characters shed their outward skin like snakes, revealing their true motivations.  

Skincare is not a supernatural film. But it does feature characters that are real monsters. Not at all in the horror movie way. More in the way the characters might behave in a Bret Easton Ellis novel. There is a vapid meanness to some characters, and they are literal wolves in sheep clothing. Did I mention Skincare is set in Los Angeles? Well, it’s the perfect setting for this story about drive, ambition, and the subjective interpretation of success.

Skincare does something tremendously well. In fact, it’s something you don’t see in many films today. And that is the idea of adjusting the audience’s perception of where the threat is coming from. The film is very Hitchcockian in that way. It thoroughly manipulates the perception of danger and its proximity to the main character.

RELATED: An Interview With Austin Peters – Director of Skincare

The acting is stellar. I mentioned Donnie Darko and Neon Demon earlier because the characters exist in a sort of surreal world. The vibe is certainly so. You know the way the characters’ dialogue seems to add another layer to the film and beacon you to become lost in their reality?

The soundtrack of Skincare also deserves special mention. It not only complements the visual style of the film but also helps to elevate it to another level. The music is carefully selected to enhance the mood of each scene, whether it’s building suspense or highlighting the emotional depth of a moment. It serves as the perfect accompaniment to the film’s striking visuals and intricate plot.

In conclusion, Skincare is a film that stands out for its ability to create and maintain a sense of tension throughout. Its complex characters, masterful manipulation of the audience’s perceptions, and stunning visual and auditory elements make it a truly enjoyable film to watch.

Skincare will make its debut in theaters August 16, 2024.

  FOR FANBOYS, BY FANBOYS Have you checked out LRM Online’s official podcasts and videos on The Genreverse Podcast Network? Available on YouTube and all your favorite podcast apps, This multimedia empire includes The Daily CoG, Breaking Geek Radio: The Podcast, GeekScholars Movie News, Anime-Versal Review Podcast, and our Star Wars dedicated podcast The Cantina. Check it out by listening on all your favorite podcast apps, or watching on YouTube! Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts |  Spotify |  SoundCloud | Stitcher | Google Play