Skincare delves into the story of Hope Goldman, a celebrated aesthetician on the verge of launching her inaugural skincare line. However, her excitement is dampened when a rival sets up shop directly opposite her store, triggering a series of unsettling events including hacked emails, slashed tires, and fake Craigslist ads. All of this leads Hope to suspect foul play. Someone is out to get her.

Determined to uncover the perpetrator behind the sabotage, Hope enlists the support of her loyal assistant (Michaela Jaé Rodriguez)and a new ally, Jordan (Lewis Pullman), a dynamic life coach brimming with innovative ideas for Hope’s burgeoning career. Throughout Hope’s turbulent journey, we meet an enamored auto mechanic portrayed (Erik Palladino), and a disconcerting local talk-show host played by Nathan Fillion (The Recruit).

The plot thickens as Hope’s worst fears materialize when a prerecorded segment unveiling her product line is bumped for Angel, the owner of the rival boutique across the way. This continues to raise Hope’s suspicions about him. Is Angel trying to take her down or is there something more menacing going on here?

ELIZABETH BANKS SHINES AS HOPE GOLDMAN IN SKINCARE

Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games) delivers a stellar performance as Hope Goldman, showcasing her versatility and talent in a role that highlights her exceptional acting prowess. She has a gift for taking characters that are easily unlikeable into individuals that viewers find themselves cheering for

The screenplay for Skincare is written by emerging talents Sam Freilich, music video director Austin Peters (who also serves as director), and Cinematographer Deering Regan. Together, the trio effectively crafts a captivating narrative that keeps the audience engaged and intrigued. My only complaint is while almost every character has a clear POV and backstory, Hope doesn’t. We get to see her using her street smarts to figure out and take care of the problem. So, it seems she has an interesting past we never get to explore. There are many moments where someone asks about her past and she quickly deflects. The lack of this information makes Hope a little one-dimensional. I wish the film had taken the time to explore it a little.

As for the film’s climax, I think it will be polarizing. Some won’t understand, others underwhelmed. For me, Hope finally did what I’d been hoping she would throughout the entire film. Spin the story in her favor.

Skincare releases in theaters on Friday, August 16, 2024!

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