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(2009) ***1/2
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Based on a true story, ‘In Her Skin’ chronicles the 1999 murder of 15-year old Australian teen, Rachel Barber, by her former babysitter, Caroline Reed.  The film is split into three sections first focusing on the victim’s parents who gradually become hysterical once they realize that their daughter is missing and the police are unwilling to help.  The second section focuses on the murderer, a 19-year old self-loathing woman who views the victim as having everything she does not with the final section focusing on the victim leading up to the moment she was murdered. 
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Excellent cinematography with long tracking shots, terrific casting, and great soundtrack make this common story of obsession and murder a cut above similar accounts.  Ruth Bradley who plays troubled Caroline does a superb job portraying a very unstable individual. I looked at news articles about the real case and I was astonished to learn that Caroline Reed was recently paroled and I was struck by how similar the characters in the film look like their real-life counterparts.  If I have one criticism it is that the film does not offer any insight into the murderer’s psyche (clearly borderline personality) and only tells the surface story of the events leading up to Barber’s death.  The murder itself is disturbing to watch especially because you know it’s coming.  Very engrossing.  Here are pictures of the real people portrayed in the film,
[Image] Caroline Reed
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Rachael Barber