Skincare (2024)

Austin Peters' debut feature invites us into the world of skincare and an environment of toxic narcissism filled with deliciously dark humour, even as he makes terrible choices.

It's a journey of ups and downs, but we get an inspired Elizabeth Banks who shines and carries this thriller on her shoulders, and with her deft performance, makes the film's darker moments shine brightly.

That's not to say the film fails; but it's perfectly acceptable and becomes enjoyable as we delve deeper into the deep intrigue its story conveys.

However, there are moments where the film becomes a bit of a slog as it moves in a good way all the way to the final climax.

Its script manages to convey the protagonist's particularly feminine paranoia well, but its plot is not coherent enough to keep on top of things without noticing certain decisions that ultimately take away from what it sometimes seems to carry with it. The power of elegance . .

Despite the script's limitations, it is not to be dismissed entirely, especially given the director's inspiring mise-en-scène, which displays an elegant handling of visual aesthetics and is complemented by the satisfying photography of Christopher Ripley, who manages to immerse himself in the whole journey in an enjoyable way.

Thriller reminiscent at times of 80s style on screen, and the result is very satisfying. A decent film with moments that deserve a chance.