Skincare

Skincare is a 2024 American crime thriller film directed by Austin Peters and starring Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Nathan Fillion. It was released in the United States by IFC Films on August 16, 2024.
==Plot==
A tearful Hope fixes her makeup with police sirens in the distance. Two weeks earlier, Hope films a television appearance on The Brett and Kylie Show to announce the launch of her skincare line, accompanied by her assistant, Marine. Hope later learns that another skincare store will open across from hers. Its owner, Angel, asks her not to park in her usual spot, now for his customers, further irritating her. Hope returns to her store to work on her regular client Colleen, who introduces Hope to her younger friend, Jordan. Hope runs into Jordan again that evening, and he gives her a card for his life coaching business.
At night, Hope receives a text message with a video of her in her store, followed by an ominous phone call. The next day, Colleen tells Hope that someone sent an email from her address to all of her contacts claiming she is struggling emotionally, in debt, and sexually frustrated, leading several clients to cancel their appointments. The two then sit down to watch Hope's segment on The Brett and Kylie show, but instead, an interview with Angel is aired. Hope meets with Brett, who blames the producers for showing Angel's interview. Brett takes Hope home and tries to initiate sex with her, which she declines due to him being married. Brett then proposes that he will reinstate her segment on the show in exchange for fellatio. Hope reveals she has recorded their conversation, though she swears she has deleted it.
Hope finds that her tires have been slashed. She calls the police and takes her car to a garage, where the owner, Armond, tells her that the slashed tires might be a warning. Hope shows him some explicit text messages she received, and he asks her if she wants a gun. She later goes gun shopping on her own, although she ultimately buys a can of pepper spray instead. The next day, while Hope is performing a facial, a man arrives at the salon, saying he is there to have sex with her. Jordan forcibly removes him from the property. Hope discovers that someone has posted personal ads online inviting people for sex at her workplace, including edited photos of her face. Hope believes Angel is responsible for all of her harassment and tries to enlist the help of the police and her landlord, but both are incredulous. 
The man who came to Hope's salon for sex arrives at Jordan's apartment, revealing he is an actor in Jordan's employ. Hope tells Jordan that Angel continues to be a problem, and Jordan promises to deal with it. He goes to Angel's salon, but instead of threatening him, he proposes offering his life coaching services to Angel's clients, which Angel declines. Jordan calls Hope and lies about having handled the problem. A man breaks into Hope's home, but she pepper sprays him and he runs away. Hope calls Jordan in a rage about the break-in (which she attributes to Angel), saying she wants Jordan to stay out of it, and shares the details with Armond, who promises to help. Jordan begins repeatedly calling Hope's studio and sends her a framed photograph of her. Meanwhile, a detective shows Hope footage depicting Jordan slashing her tires. Hope now realizes Jordan is responsible for the harassment. Armond goes to Angel's house and knocks him out, but trying to drive while injured, Armond is then hit by a truck and killed.
Hope calls Jordan and demands he come to her office immediately. He says he will, but then calls the police and provides an anonymous tip that Hope was responsible for attacking Angel. Hope then goes to Jordan's apartment and confronts him, which leads to a physical fight. The film then returns to the opening scene. Hope finishes applying her makeup as the police enter her home and arrest her. Jordan is then also arrested. Angel is shown to have recovered. The movie ends with another clip from The Brett and Kylie Show, finally showing Hope's segment, but now calling her "the killer facialist." 
==Cast==
== Production ==
The film was loosely inspired by the case of Dawn DaLuise, who was arrested and later acquitted for a murder-for-hire plot against a rival beauty guru. Filming wrapped before the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike. Cast members were announced in June 2023. IFC Films acquired the film's distribution rights in June 2024.
== Release ==
The film was released in the United States on August 16, 2024.
== Reception ==
===Box office===
In the United States and Canada, the film made $323,856 from 760 theaters in its opening weekend.
===Critical response===
 
== External links ==
*
== References ==
Category:Films
Category:2024 films
Category:2020s films
Category:Horror films
Category:IFC Films films
Category:Films produced by Jonathan Schwartz
Category:IFC Films films
Category:American crime thriller films
Category:2024 crime thriller films
Category:2020s American films
Category:2020s English-language films