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Skincare, an underrated indie thriller released last year, is finally entering people’s radar. The Elizabeth Banks-led psychological feature found its rightful audience when it debuted for streaming on Hulu on June 17, joining the streamer’s extensive horror catalog. Per FlixPatrol’s record, the movie has climbed to the third spot on Hulu’s Top 10 list for June 20, 2025, trailing behind Liam Neeson’s action thriller Absolution and the fan-favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) title, 2008's Iron Man.

Skincare didn’t exactly perform well at the box office, given its limited theatrical run. However, with the existence of streaming services, the film has finally piqued the interest of niche audiences seeking a compelling thriller. The movie serves as the feature directorial debut of Austin Peters, who has also directed music videos for artists like Charli Xcx, Haim, Bastille, Orville Peck, and Diplo. The director’s experience of crafting visuals for...

A little-known thriller from the summer of 2024, Skincare, has found an audience on Hulu and is now one of the streaming service's top films. Skincare is the feature directorial debut of Austin Peters, who also co-wrote the film, and it follows a famous aesthetician who is about to launch a line of skincare products, only to find a rival boutique opening up next to her. That, combined with someone calling and watching her from afar, has her believing someone is out to sabotage her life.

The talent involved in Skincare is clear as the film is led by Elizabeth Banks with a supporting cast that features rising star Lewis Pullman, Emmy nominee and Golden Globe winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, veteran star Nathan Fillion, and more. It's the kind of indie film that tends to get overlooked on the big screen, but once people give it a chance, they find something highly intriguing.

Exclusive: Luis Gerardo Méndez and Adriana Paz are the latest to join the cast of the Netflix crime thriller Animals. Ben Affleck will star and direct with Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun and Gillian Anderson also on board. The plan is for the film to shoot in Los Angeles from a script by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray.

Plot details are being kept under wraps other than the film revolving around a kidnapping.

Affleck, Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld will produce through their Artists Equity banner, the artist-led studio founded by Affleck, Damon and Gerry Cardinale/RedBird Capital Partners. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are also producing for Makeready, which developed the project in partnership with Fifth Season. Artists Equity’s Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran and Lucy Damon will serve as executive producers alongside Fifth Season.

For Mendez, the role is a huge get for one of Mexico’s biggest stars.

Since the days of cinema classics like Ben-Hur, fantasy movies have set the benchmark for quality, high-budget entertainment, as can be seen in iconic franchises like The Lord of the Rings. From focusing on heroes embarking on epic quests to reimaginings of beloved fairy tales, the 1990s gave audiences some of the most enjoyable entries in the genre, though with an emphasis on smaller budgets, comedy, and animation.

The 1990s saw something of a slump in fantasy cinema, as the '80s had no shortage of campy flops in the genre, but still remains a great decade for family-oriented adventure. From worlds populated by knights and dragons to reboots of classic Universal Monsters, the decade is practically synonymous with adventure. With many of these movies still household names for fantasy fans, it's worth remembering some of the best the '90s had to offer.

The Phantom Revived A 1930s Comic...

The most influential movies today are based on superhero comics. However, before the era of caped and costumed heroes, there was the age of pulp magazines. Popular until the 1950s, these magazines featured a wide range of heroes, from adventurers to noir detectives to horror protagonists. Pulp heroes were, in many ways, the precursors to modern superheroes.

After the success of Tim Burton’s Batman, an influx of pulp-inspired movies emerged in the 1990s. This era appealed to an older generation nostalgic for simpler heroes, while also embracing the stylish aesthetics of the 1930s and 1940s. Pulp-inspired movies were simpler, less flashy, and often cheesier than today’s superhero blockbusters, yet they retained a unique charm.

The Phantom was Arguably the First Superhero

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Here’s the latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.

For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro-budget indie films to bigger-budget studio films and everything in between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dom Lenoir, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk about how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their filmmaking experiences from directors, writers, producers and screenwriters, to actors, cinematographers and distributors.

The Filmmaker’s Podcast #418: From music videos to short films to...

Exclusive: John Billingsley (Manhunt) and Jeremy Bobb (Cabrini) are set for recurring roles opposite Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen in JonBenét Ramsey limited series at Paramount+.

In addition to Martindale and Owen, they join previously announced cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Jaime Ray Newman, Josh Stamberg and Margo Martindale.

Exec produced by Richard Lagravenese (Behind the Candelabra), who serves as showrunner, JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the six-year-old beauty queen of the same name. The show follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy, as they go through the painful loss of a child, while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring...

“Skincare” is a thriller movie starring Elizabeth Banks. With Lewis Pullman, Nathan Fillion and Mj Rodriguez. It is directed by Austin Peters.

“Skincare” is a thriller steeped in irony, especially in its aesthetic choices. Starring the ever-charming Elizabeth Banks, this film transports us back to the vibrant streets of Los Angeles in the 1990s, a time when the internet was emerging as a groundbreaking social phenomenon. The movie delves into the origins of influencers and various subcultures that the internet has since spawned.

Plot

Hope Goldman is an ambitious beautician struggling to keep her business afloat. Adding to her woes, her fiercest competitor sets up shop next door and lands a coveted TV interview, further overshadowing Hope’s efforts. As if this weren’t enough, strange occurrences begin to plague her email account, setting off a chain of events that unravel her life.

About the Film

While “Skincare” carries moral undertones,...

Being a Film Independent Member has its benefits. One of our favorites is the incredible screenings you can attend as part of our Film Independent Presents program. You get to see the hottest new Indies before they hit theaters and then get to watch the creators behind the film break down the process afterwards. Entertainment and education all in one place. Enter-cation, Edu-tainment, something like that. But if you did happen to miss these incredible screenings, we have you covered. Over on our YouTube page, we have the Q&As of some of our best screenings. You can watch the film on your own, then watch our Q&a, and imagine how cool it would be to be a Member.

Here are just a few of the most recent Q&As from our Film Independent Presents screenings.

Zoë Kravitz stopped by to talk about her harrowing and hilarious Blink Twice...

Lewis Pullman is following up his Emmy-nominated turn in Lessons in Chemistry with two very cool genre movies the edgy "sunshine noir" of Skincare, and the highly-anticipated film adaptation of Stephen King's Salem's Lot. In the former, he stars opposite Elizabeth Banks as Jordan, an aspiring influencer who may be in over his head as he tries to achieve his own brand of stardom in modern Los Angeles. In Salem's Lot, he leads the film as writer Ben Mears, who returns to his hometown and discovers that it's been infiltrated by a vampire. There's been some controversy surrounding the project, as the studio decided to pull its theatrical release and bring it straight to Max, even though King took to social media to sing its praises.

And Pullman confirmed to us that it's indeed a successful end result. "I'm excited about it. I saw it, and it's a blast,...

Releasing a music video with Orville Peck, Beck, and Sharon Stone one month, and a glossy and glamorous film with Elizabeth Banks and Lewis Pullman another month, filmmaker Austin Peters is doing it all, and with style. We spoke with him recently about his new movie Skincare, which is now playing in theaters and stars that wildly talented aforementioned cast.

The satirical thriller's storyline involves a beauty salon owner's rivalry with another nearby business, which escalates to the point of violent threats. If the plot sounds over-the-top, just remember, so if life some of the events actually happened in Hollywood circa 2014. Well, kind of. "It's really just loosely inspired by some of those events," Peters told MovieWeb. "Early on, we sort of wanted to just make it its own thing and its own movie. And so once there was that sort of point of departure, you know, we basically never returned to it again.

Skincare is a thriller film about an aesthetician facing sabotage from a rival in the skincare industry. Luis Gerardo Mndez believes the film explores mental health and ambitions in Los Angeles. Mndez emphasizes the importance of balancing success and mental health in the movie.

Currently available to see in theaters, Skincare is a new thriller directed by Austin Peters that explores how far a person will go to protect their image. The film stars Elizabeth Banks as Hope Goldman, an aesthetician taking the next step in her career by launching her own skincare line. When Luis Gerardo Mndez's character, Angel Vergara, opens a competing boutique across the street, Hope believes he may be responsible for tarnishing her reputation.

Prior to Skincare, Mndez is known for starring and executive producing Netflixs first Spanish-language original comedy series, Club de Cuervos. He worked with Banks on the 2019 film, Charlie's Angels, and looked forward...

“Skincare,” the sly thriller starring Elizabeth Banks now in theaters, begins with an eerily stressful makeup routine performed by Banks’ celebrity aesthetician character, Hope. From there, the movie acquires what cinematographer Christopher Ripley called an “unhinged momentum.”

That translated to the actual filming, as well, which took all of 18 days in Hollywood. Not bad for a film that’s set in 2013, which required a surprising amount of retro equipment to pull off.

“[Director Austin Peters] and I both were very interested in that time period, a period in flux with a lot of changed energy,” Ripley told IndieWire. “Hollywood was, as Austin described it, ‘fully torqued.’ Uncanny and very disturbing, intense energy going on.”

That energy was the perfect backdrop for the increasingly unraveling Hope, whose shot at financial security and fame with her own product line is upended when a rival aesthetician moves in across from her salon, and a wave of harassment begins.

Coraline 15th Anniversary notched a nice no. 5 at the domestic box office with $8.63 million for the three-day weekend on 1,603 screens. The cume of $12.5 million including Thursday ($20+ million worldwide) broke its previous record for Fathom Events. Last year, the stop-motion animated feature by Henry Selick became the distributor’s highest-grossing classic with $7m+ at the box office over four days.

Coraline debuted in 2009 with an opening weekend gross of $16.8 million heading to $75.3 million domestically and $127 million globally. The PG-rated film based on the popular 2002 book by Neil Gaiman, was the first to be originally filmed in 3-D – with CG effects.

Dakota Fanning voices a young girl named Coraline, who walks through a secret door in her new house and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life — only much better. But when this wondrously off-kilter, fantastical adventure turns dangerous and her counterfeit parents,...

Lewis Pullman stars in the new mystery thriller Skincare as an eccentric influencer-type named Jordan. Pullman drew inspiration from Justin Timberlake for his role but went a bit overboard and had to find a balance in portraying the character. Skincare is a satire about a rivalry between renowned aestheticians, also with Elizabeth Banks.

Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick) stars in the darkly funny new mystery thriller Skincare, which is now playing in theaters. He plays an eccentric and ambitious influencer-type named Jordan who wants to help his renowned beautician pal, Hope (played by Elizabeth Banks), when a competing salon opens across the street from her business. It's a rich role and could be Pullman's finest performance to date and he drew from a boy band pop singer for it. Back when Pullman's real-life actor dad, Bill Pullman, was starring in high-profile films like Independence Day, there was a surge of boy bands emerging,...

The following contains spoilers for Skincare, in theaters now.

Skincare is a psychological thriller that plays with movie fans' ideas of fame and beauty. Famed esthetician Hope Goldman begins to receive threatening messages, has her email hacked, and finds herself stalked. All of these things occur right as Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Mndez) opens his salon across from hers. Driven to paranoia, Hope decides to take matters into her own hands and the consequences are deadly.

In this interview with Cbr, Luis Gerardo Mndez shares his experience on the set of Skincare. He discusses his friendship with co-star Elizabeth Banks and the movie's subtle social commentary on fame and obsession. Plus, the actor reflects on the constant pressure to stay new and relevant in Hollywood, and reveals the significance of Angel's dyed hair.

Cbr: Your character Angel Vergara is a striking contrast to Hope Goldman. He's the new kid on the block,...

The 2023 thriller Skincare arrived with buzz thanks to its unflinching look at Hollywood’s obsession with image and youth. Directed by Austin Peters in his feature debut, the film stars Elizabeth Banks as Hope Goldman, a veteran Hollywood aesthetician whose life begins to unravel in unexpected ways.

As the story opens, Hope is on the verge of launching her own line of luxurious skincare products. But just as she’s secured a high-profile television segment to showcase her line, strange things start happening that threaten to destroy her reputation. Hope finds herself the target of an anonymous stalker who sends a lewd email to Hope’s entire contact list, making it appear she’s having a mental breakdown.

As clients abandon her in droves and her business falters, Hope grows increasingly paranoid and convinced her new competitor across the street, fellow aesthetician Angel Vergara portrayed by Luis Gerardo Méndez, is behind the attacks.

Skincare, a vanity thriller starring Elizabeth Banks, explores the repercussions of a hacked email account on a skincare business. Lewis Pullman praises Elizabeth Banks' performance as Hope Goldman and credits director Austin Peters for a compelling narrative. Pullman's character, Jordan, a life coach in the film, allowed him to stretch new creative muscles.

Directed by Austin Peters and co-written with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, Skincare, is currently available to see in theaters. The vanity thriller stars Elizabeth Banks as Hope Goldman, an aesthetician willing to do whatever it takes to grow her skincare business. In a world that revolves around social media, Hope struggles to salvage the company's image after a hacker sends an obscene email to her clients. When Hope grows suspicious of a facialist who recently opened a boutique across the street, she enlists the help of Lewis Pullman's character, Jordan.

Pullman was excited to work with Banks,...

The germ of the idea for the crime thriller “Skincare” came from a stranger-than-fiction criminal case: A Los Angeles-based aesthetician to the stars was accused of plotting the murder of a rival skincare expert. Yet director and co-writer Austin Peters wasn’t interested in creating a work of journalism or a documentary. Instead, he considered it the perfect jumping-off point for a Southern California Gothic tale.

“It’s inspired by lots of movies and books in this sunshine noir world of Los Angeles,” Peters, who wrote the film with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, says. “We never set out to tell the true story — that was never our intention. The thing that called to us about the story is that it sounded like a James M. Cain-style noir. It felt new and true to the Los Angeles I know, the world I know.”

Although “Skincare” is Peters’ debut feature,...

From facial wars to a penguin friend, wandering surfers and Haitian immigrants in Miami, the independent film market is fun, thoughtful, varied and contending with a faster cadence of high performing studio wide releases. That’s exhilarating on one hand but, indie distribution executives say, is making it increasingly difficult to date their films after having a pretty clear field for the first half of 2024.

New this weekend: IFC Films’ Elizabeth Banks-starring Skincare on 768 screens. Banks is Hope Goldman, a legendary Hollywood facialist to the stars preparing to enter the next phase of her career with a new line of skincare products in this dark comedy. Sensing that someone is trying to sabotage her business and destroy her life, she starts investigating to save what she’s built by any means necessary.

Loosely inspired by a real case involving aesthetician Dawn DaLuise, who did some prison time for putting...

Skincare explores the pressure to succeed in a social media world, with Hope Goldman facing challenges from a rival in the beauty industry. Elizabeth Banks stars as Hope in this thrilling film, which delves into themes of aging, identity, and the impact of technology on beauty. The movie, directed by Austin Peters, showcases a talented cast including Nathan Fillion, and highlights the struggles of women in a competitive industry.

Releasing in theaters on Friday, August 16, Skincare examines the pressure to appear successful in a world dominated by social media. Hope Goldman believes her business is finally going to flourish after booking a news segment and launching her own skincare line. However, when a competing boutique opens up across the street from her shop, she suspects the owner of driving away her customers. As the saboteur's actions intensify, Hope teams up with her new friend, Jordan, to uncover the truth and salvage her career.

Just a few months ago we premiered the trailer for the new Elizabeth Banks movie, Skincare. Its slick editing and intriguing concept made it look very different from Banks’ usual work. Somewhat parallel to film noir, “sunshine noir” as the director calls it, makes Skincare unique in its style and tone. I think the concept of a person completely destroying another’s life is rife for cinematic gold. And with some fantastic performances and some truly stylish cinematography, there’s more than just a mystery to keep you invested.

I was fortunate enough to talk to Banks, Lewis Pullman, and director Austin Peters about the film. It’s always fun when everyone you talk to has such a passion for the project and that’s evident with Skincare. Everyone here wanted to put their best foot forward and provide a unique and thrilling film. I’d say they pulled it...

Directed by Austin Peters of The Phantom fame and starring Elizabeth Banks, Luis Gerado Mndez and Lewis Pullman, Skincare is the newest psychological thriller to take a deep dive into the dark side of fame, beauty, power and obsession in the bowels of Hollywood. A brutal critique of the now-ubiquitous beauty industry, influencers, ambition and the fickle breeze of trends, Skincare follows Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks), an established beautician at the heart of Beverly Hills. Hope spent years building her brand through her salon, accumulating a seemingly loyal fanbase. She's on the verge of making her big break, especially now that she's about to launch her own skincare product line. With the help of her new friend and career success coach, Jordan (Lewis Pullman), she's ready to take her newfound stardom by storm.

But terrible things begin to happen. Someone hacked into Hope's email and sent explicit messages to all of her contacts.

“Skincare” is a new thriller, directed by Austin Peters, starring Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Nathan Fillion and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, opening August 16, 2024 in theaters:

“…inspired by true events, ‘Skincare’ follows aesthetician ‘Hope Goldman’ (Banks) who is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line.

“But complications arise when rival facialist ‘Angel Vergara’ (Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her studio.

“She begins to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend ‘Jordan’ (Pullman)…

“…she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

Plot: Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman’s skincare business faces sabotage when rival Angel Vergara opens a boutique across the street. Aided by friend Jordan, Hope seeks to uncover who’s trying to ruin her reputation.

Review: I’m not going to lie, a movie about the beauty/skincare industry doesn’t exactly appeal to me on the surface. But add Elizabeth Banks as the delusional lead at the center of the story and I’m intrigued. Then add in a very dark and twisted angle about the perception of one’s image and we’re off to the races! Plus, as much as it’s about beauty, it’s about so much more. The feeling of paranoia is universal, and everyone has that moment in their life where it seems like everything is working against them. Skincare posits the idea that maybe there’s someone behind that, purposely tearing your life apart.

We spoke to Elizabeth Banks about her new movie Skincare, where she plays an ambitious but anxiety-stricken beauty salon owner in Hollywood. It's a deliciously dark study on the far reaches that business owners will go for the sake of success, especially in the crowded beauty industry in sunny, plastic Los Angeles. Between Skincare and Demi Moore's new buzzy film The Substance, our perpetual striving for beautification is clearly a hot topic in Hollywood these days.

"There's a lot to be said about aging and beauty and all of that right now, especially online, especially as it applies to social media and what it's doing to our psyche about aging, as everything can be filtered and everybody can be Botoxed, and everything can be filled," Banks told MoiveWeb. She went on to say:

"I think collectively, we're losing sight of the privilege and wisdom of aging in a time when,...

If you’ve never had a full-blown panic attack, well, first off, congratulations. You’re living the dream. Secondly, you should probably know that they’re no fun whatsoever. Nobody ever huddled in a corner with a debilitating shortness of breath and a stun-locked brain has come out the other side thinking, “Now, That’s entertainment!”

So it’s funny that so many movies try to entertain us by throwing their protagonists into panic mode and making the audience share that anxiety. Even great films sometimes do the job a little too well. Fortunately for me and everyone else in the audience, Austin Peters’ “Skincare” knows exactly what it’s doing, balancing a sense of total desperation with just enough camp to convey its nightmarish situations without ruining your day. It’s a smart and promising debut feature from Peters, whose recent music videos for country star Orville Peck also...

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Filmmaker Austin Peters spoke with MovieWeb's Will Sayre about his great new film, Skincare, with Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Nathan Fillion, Luis Gerardo Mndez, and many others. He breaks down the great performances, the story behind the movie, and its sharp satire. Skincare is out Aug. 16, 2024, from IFC Films.

In Skincare, legendary facialist-to-the-stars Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks) is preparing to enter the next phase of her career by launching her own retail line of skincare products. However, she begins to sense that someone is trying to sabotage her business and destroy her life after she becomes entangled in a series of menacing situations. Consumed with paranoia, Hope goes on an investigation across Hollywood to find out who is responsible and save her business- by any means necessary.

Skincare is Peters' first narrative feature film. In 2017, he directed the feature documentary Give Me...

Skincare is a cleverly directed thriller that satirizes the cutthroat world of beauty and Hollywood glamor. Elizabeth Banks' award-worthy performance leads a wonderful cast who all get developed and explored in interesting ways, though we needed more Lewis Pullman. Skincare is a sharp satire that blends mystery, crime, and thriller elements to great effect, at least until a disappointing ending.

Pretty soon, aging will be a thing of the past. In fact, de-aging has taken shape at a hot new boutique salon in Los Angeles. Don't miss out! Well, at least that's the fictional premise of Skincare, IFC Films' new release this week starring an extremely talented cast led by a genuinely glowing Elizabeth Banks. It's a glossy "sunshine noir," as its rising-star director Austin Peters (Give Me Future) likes to dub it. After just a few scenes, you'll understand why.

The sun-drenched noir classics from the '70s and...

Reputation is everything, but even great first impressions can backfire. Take “Skincare,” an online harassment whodunit that never gets as ugly as its taut set-up suggests it might.

Known mostly for music videos, director Austin Peters makes his narrative feature debut for IFC Films in the niche world of luxury cosmetology. Set in Los Angeles circa 2013 — with the statement jewelry, high-low hemlines, and pop music to match — this psychosexual thriller invites audiences into the crumbling façade of boutique aesthetician Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks).

Hope is seemingly successful enough, beautiful enough, happy enough. But when a plan for a line of her own skincare products turns sour, the quietly fucked-up facialist finds herself in serious debt. After rival beautician Angel (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a competing storefront, an unseen foe starts harassing Hope online, pushing the already exhausted business owner that much closer to personal catastrophe.

Skewering #GirlBoss culture is still...

Elizabeth Banks takes charge and delivers in Skincare, a Hollywood-set psychological thriller that its feature-debuting director, Austin Peters, likes to label a “sunshine noir”. Certainly it has elements of the classic darkly lit black and white film noirs set in L.A. in the 40’s, but this one takes place directly in the bright sunlit corners of Southern California where facialists are definitely a thing.

It is a fictional story, very loosely inspired apparently by a real case involving aesthetician Dawn DaLuise who was accused of putting out a hit on a rival facialist in 2014 and did wind up doing some prison time before being acquitted. There is no mention of her or that, but apparently screenwriters Deering Regan & Sam Freilich, and Peters were “inspired” enough to use it as a tipping point. It is a completely fictionalized character Banks plays, but her transformation feels close to real life despite...

The new films, such as Skincare, can sometimes be downright Hitchcockian. It is a contemporary thriller with more on its mind than most regarding social media and the vain narcissism that grows like a garden of invasive and unwanted weeds. Clever, suspenseful, and surprising, Skincare is a gripping tale of obsession that hits close to home.

Elizabeth Banks gives the best performance of her career as Hope Goldman, an up-and-coming celebrity aesthetician in the City of Angels. Hope is about to unveil her own makeup line after a successful run with a boutique shop in town. Business is booming for Goldman, who just wrapped up a viral interview with a popular Los Angeles news station designed to help with the launch.

Elizabeth Banks in Skincare (2024) | Image via IFC Films

RELATEDElizabeth Banks Aimed For Kirsten Dunst’s Role in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man Trilogy Before She Landed Another Smaller Role Instead Skincare Review and Synopsis

However,...

Elizabeth Banks is stepping out to promote her new movie.

The 50-year-old actress posed for photos at the a screening of her new movie Skincare on Tuesday evening (August 13) held at the Crosby Hotel in New York City.

Elizabeth dazzled in a shimmering silver dress paired with a black blazer, tights, and heels as she was joined at the screening by director Austin Peters and producer Jonathan Schwartz.

Keep reading to find out more…Here’s the movie’s synopsis: “Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (Banks) is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line, but her personal and work lives are challenged when rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her store. She starts to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend Jordan (Lewis Pullman...

From comedy to drama to biopics and every genre in between, Elizabeth Banks always understands the assignment.

The actress had plenty to play with in IFC Films‘ Skincare, which premieres Friday in theaters. It’s a true crime-inspired character study about a woman’s struggle to stay relevant in Hollywood and the dangerous lengths she’ll go to defend what she’s built — a role to which Banks “felt very connected.”

“I related to this sense of vulnerability, of feeling like the technology is going so fast that you can’t keep up with it, that there’s always gonna be a new fresh, useful way of doing things,” Banks tells Deadline. “And this woman just doesn’t know how to do it. And I feel like as someone who’s middle-aged and works in Hollywood, I already feel like I don’t know what the next big thing is gonna be,...

Beauty is a cutthroat business in Skincare. The IFC Films thriller starring Elizabeth Banks, who plays a celebrity aesthetician called Hope Goldman. She is gearing up to launch her own skincare line, but things get dicey when rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a new boutique directly across from her store. Talk about a real face-off. Hope begins to suspect someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business. She enlists the help of a new friend named Jordan (Outer Range’s Lewis Pullman) to find out who is looking to destroy her life. Things start to unravel from there. The flick from Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment was directed by Austin Peters (Give Me Future). Co-writers Sam Freilich and Deering Regan found some inspiration for the story from what happened to Dawn DaLuise, a skincare expert to the stars who was accused of a murder-for-hire plot against another aesthetician.

Quick Links What Is Skincare About? Who Is Dawn DaLuise? How Skincare Adapts DaLuise's Story

Bowing theatrically on August 16, 2024, the adage "life imitates art" applies to the new Elizabeth Banks movie Skincare. Only the filmmakers claim they weren't aware of its real-life inspiration while producing the thriller. In one of the most bizarre stories in recent Hollywood memory, a professional facialist named Dawn DaLuise accused Skincare of stealing her life story and adapting her tale without her consent.

Although Banks and director Austin Peters maintain the parallels to DaLuise's story are purely accidental, the similarities are too stark to ignore. As such, it's worth delving into the specifics of DaLuise's true story and how much Skincare appropriates her life without permission. An ultimate tale of rivalry and revenge, whether unwittingly adapting DaLuise's story, Skincare explores the importance of keeping up appearances in a glitzy town like Hollywood.

Skincare (2024) R

Release...

In past columns, I have spoken at length on the art of crying on movie posters, as it is a mild obsession of mine. These images are almost always female (the notable exception being Get Out), and almost always in extreme close up. The poster for the Elizabeth Banks-starring, Austin Peters-directed crime thriller Skincare follows the design right down to the ultra-tiny and non-typical placement credit block placement (here dead centre) as per Akiko Stehrenberger's trend-setting key art for the American remake of Michael Haneke's Funny Games. The difference with Grandson’s design here, is that there is a more controlled intent, being that the film is a mystery instead of a horror, the mood is less terror, and more, well, something else. This is mainly to...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

“Skincare” is a new thriller, directed by Austin Peters, starring Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Nathan Fillion and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, opening August 16, 2024 in theaters:

“…inspired by true events, ‘Skincare’ follows aesthetician ‘Hope Goldman’ (Banks) who is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line.

“But complications arise when rival facialist ‘Angel Vergara’ (Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her studio.

“She begins to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend ‘Jordan’ (Pullman)…

“…she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

I was astounded by Elizabeth Banks’ outfit choice at the Louis Vuitton-hosted prelude to the Olympics party last week, so seeing her make a stylish comeback to the United States in yet another classic-contemporary dress didn’t surprise me.

Arriving at the Good Morning America studios, The Hunger Games actress was impossible to miss in her summery turquoise David Koma Fall 2024 dress. It captures her signature style, which often blends classic elegance and contemporary flair.

I was a little taken aback when I found out that the dress was by David Koma. The Georgian fashion designer is famous for his ultra-body-contouring, sculptural silhouettes that draw inspiration from the feminine form.

Elizabeth Banks visits Good Morning America in a turquoise David Koma dress to talk about her upcoming crime thriller movie Skincare (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

While Banks’ neoprene dress is undoubtedly very feminine, it deviates slightly from the London-based label’s typical bodycon offerings.

Elizabeth Banks is thankful for the “guardian angel” who saved her from choking on the set of her upcoming movie, Skincare.

During a Good Morning America appearance earlier this week, the actress and filmmaker shared she had her “first-ever choking incident” after a “little green pea” she was eating for lunch got lodged in her throat. “I was alone in my trailer. I threw the door open, couldn’t make any noise; I was so afraid,” Banks recalled.

“I happened to see someone who said, ‘Are you choking?’ And I gave him the sign [of a thumbs-up signaling] yes, and he came over,” she continued. “He came over very calmly. I backed right into him and he gave me the Heimlich maneuver.” Banks noted that the crew member “had to do it twice” until the pea came loose.

“His name is Julius. He is my guardian angel,” she said. “Julius, I love you. He...

In a tribute to Sin City, Orville Peck and Beck perform back-to-back on a roulette wheel and rope in Sharon Stone for a glitzy Casino callback in the music video for their duet “Death Valley High.”

The clip even opens with the words “Peck Beck” in lights, paying tribute to Elvis Presley’s ’68 comeback special. The song, which will appear on Peck’s upcoming Stampede album when it arrives next month, also bears a jaunty resemblance to Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas,” though the King could never rap like Beck.

“Skincare” is a new `dramatic thriller, co-written and directed by Austin Peters, starring Elizabeth Banks, Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Nathan Fillion and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, opening August 16, 2024 in theaters:

“…inspired by true events, ‘Skincare’ follows aesthetician ‘Hope Goldman’ (Banks) who is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line.

“But complications arise when rival facialist ‘Angel Vergara’ (Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her studio.

“She begins to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her friend ‘Jordan’ (Pullman)…

“…she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

IFC Films will be giving the vanity thriller Skincare, starring Cocaine Bear director Elizabeth Banks, a theatrical release on August 16th – and with that date just a couple of months away, they have decided to unveil a trailer for the film. You can check it out in the embed above.

Skincare marks the narrative feature directorial debut of Austin Peters, who previously directed the documentary Give Me Future, about the free Major Lazer concert in Havana, Cuba that drew half a million fans. Peters wrote the screenplay with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, crafting the following story: Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman (Elizabeth Banks) is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line, but her personal and work lives are challenged when rival facialist Angel Vergara opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her store. She starts to suspect that someone is...

Given the age of Instagram Beauty, social media Wellness and the grifters that come along with it, and the TikTok age of beauty care products, it was bound to happen: a movie about skincare and essentially the local skincare wars as everyone fights for a piece of the pie. That’s essentially the gist of the new Elizabeth Moss film, aptly titled “Skincare” by director Austin Peters. Written by Sam Freilich, Austin Peters, and Deering Regan, the film centers on a famed aesthetician’s (Moss) skincare business that faces sabotage when a rival opens a boutique across the street.

Continue reading ‘Skincare’ Trailer: Elizabeth Banks & Lewis Pullman Star In A New Thriller About Beauty As A Cutthroat Business at The Playlist.

"Beauty's an ugly business." Ain't that the truth. IFC Films has revealed the first official trailer for a crime thriller called Skincare, a new film from director Austin Peters. This is set to open in limited theaters in August at the end of this summer. Famed aesthetician Hope Goldman's skincare business faces sabotage when rival Angel Vergara opens a boutique right across the street. Aided by friend Jordan, Hope seeks to uncover who's trying to ruin her reputation. She becomes convinced this rival is out to sabotage her business and destroy her life. How far will she go for revenge? Elizabeth Banks stars as Hope, with Lewis Pullman, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez, and Nathan Fillion (!!). "People love a scandal. The internet is full of sickos." While this seems similar to The Substance (my review), it actually reminds me of Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop and how ridiculous beauty...

Elizabeth Banks knows nothing can cover up sabotage in latest film “Skincare.”

Banks stars as famed aesthetician Hope Goldman who is losing out on her namesake, quite literally. Hope is about to take her career to the next level by launching her very own skincare line, but her personal and work lives are challenged when rival facialist Angel Vergara (Luis Gerardo Méndez) opens a new skincare boutique directly across from her store.

Hope starts to suspect that someone is trying to sabotage her reputation and business, and together with her new friend Jordan (Lewis Pullman) she embarks on a mission to unravel the mystery of who is trying to destroy her life.

The feature, which is directed by Austin Peters who cowrote the script with Sam Freilich and Deering Regan, also stars Michaela Jaé (Mj) Rodriguez and Nathan Fillion.

Peters made his directorial debut with documentary “Give Me Future” about...

IFC Films has secured the North American distribution rights for “Skincare,” a highly anticipated thriller starring Elizabeth Banks, set to hit theaters on August 16, 2024. The film, directed by Austin Peters, promises to breathe new life into the whodunit genre with a unique twist on vanity and crime.

Banks, known for her roles in “The Hunger Games” and “Pitch Perfect” franchises, leads an all-star ensemble cast in this noir-inspired thriller. The story follows Hope Goldman (Banks), a renowned aesthetician on the brink of launching her own skincare line. Her plans are thrown into disarray when rival facialist Angel Vergara, played by Luis Gerardo Méndez, opens a competing boutique across from her studio. As mysterious events unfold, Hope suspects a deliberate attempt to sabotage her reputation and business.

The plot thickens as Hope enlists the help of her friend Jordan, portrayed by Lewis Pullman of “Top Gun: Maverick” fame, to unravel the...

Elizabeth Banks stars in the crime thriller Skincare opening August 16, 2024. The film features an all-star cast, including Luis Gerardo Mndez and Nathan Fillion. Banks plays Hope, an aesthetician who investigates the sabotaging of her career.

Skincare, a new thriller starring Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games films) and an all-star cast, is coming to theaters later this year, after IFC Films announced on Monday that it had acquired the picture's North American distribution rights. The film is directed by Austin Peters (Give Me Future) and written by Peters, Deering Regan and Sam Freilich, and is now due to open in theaters on August 16, 2024.

Emmy nominee Banks will be supported by an all-star cast, including Luis Gerardo Mndez (Netflix's Narcos: Mexico), Lewis Pullman (Top Gun: Maverick), Nathan Fillion and Emmy nominee Mj Rodriguez. The film also stars John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise) and Medalion Rahimi (NCIS: Los Angeles).

Related Elizabeth Banks...

Jessica Biel (The Sinner) and Elizabeth Banks (Call Jane) will exec produce and star in The Better Sister, a thriller based on the novel by Alafair Burke. In a competitive situation, the project has landed at Prime Video with a series order. It hails from Tomorrow Studios, which will co-produce with Amazon MGM Studios.

Olivia Milch (Ocean’s 8), who wrote the pilot, and Regina Corrado (Mayor of Kingstown) serve as executive producers and showrunners on The Better Sister, which is meditating on the terrible things that drive sisters apart and ultimately bring them back together. This is the story of Chloe (Biel), who moves through the world with her handsome lawyer husband Adam and teenage son Ethan by her side while her estranged sister Nicky (Banks) struggles to stay clean and hustles to make ends meet. When Adam is brutally murdered, the prime suspect sends shockwaves through the family, laying bare long-buried secrets.

Warner Bros has begun rounding out the cast for DC franchise resetter Superman: Legacy, studio co-chief Peter Safran has announced in a new piece with Vanity Fair, with Nathan Fillion (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), Isabela Merced (Madame Web) and Edi Gathegi (The Harder They Fall) coming aboard.

Fillion will portray Guy Gardner — one iteration of the superhero Green Lantern — with Merced as Hawkgirl and Gathegi as Mister Terrific. David Corenswet will play Clark Kent aka Superman, as previously announced, with Rachel Brosnahan as his love interest Lois Lane.

DC co-boss James Gunn is directing from his own script, which draws on DC characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Safran is serving as producer.

Fillion currently leads the ABC police procedural The Rookie and has appeared most recently on the film side in such comic book titles as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Suicide Squad,...