The film is based on the true story of the murder of Rachel Barber, an Australian teenager who went missing on 1 March 1999 and whose body was found on 13 March 1999. Rachel was killed by a former neighbor of the family, Caroline Reed Robertson, who had babysat all of the Barber children when she was a teenager.
In Her Skin is inspired by the book Perfect Victim by Elizabeth Southall (Rachel’s mother) and Megan Norris (investigative reporter). In the film, the story is told from the alternating points of view of the victim, the victim’s parents, and the murderer. We feel sympathy for all of the characters as the story unfolds and reveals the secrets of Rachel’s disappearance.
The film begins when 15-year-old Rachel Barber (Kate Bell) misses her train home one night to meet with her father, Mike (Guy Pearce). Mike relays this unusual action to his wife and Rachel’s mother; Elizabeth (Miranda Otto). Initially only moderately concerned; hours drag on and the Barber family begin a frantic search for her.
It is established Rachel is a well lauded dancer in her neighbourhood; a confident and gifted girl who follows her passion of dancing and is loved unconditionally by her moderately liberal parents and her caring boyfriend – Emmanuel “Manni” Carella.
The next day, the Barbers report the incident to the police (despite an original attempt the same night of her disappearance – which was advised against by the officer Elizabeth was speaking to as it had only been a short time since her absence, and a missing persons investigation normally requires more time for certainty). The officer in charge quickly shows he is indifferent to the idea of yet another teenage runaway case: Rachel had gone missing with her backpack, with several of her most favorite possessions, making it look like she was leaving. As a result, the support he and his colleagues give is minor and distant. Everybody in Rachel’s circle of friends and extended family is astounded by this story as she was believed to be very content in her life. Despite the pleas of the Barber family, the police take the case lightly and refuse an extensive search for their daughter.
The film then focuses on the life of Caroline Reed Robertson (Ruth Bradley); a former neighbor and babysitter of Rachel and the Barber family. Caroline is a disturbed teenager, who has struggled all her life with an elevated state of depression due to inferiority complex and parental rejection. Caroline is overweight, epileptic and has extreme self-loathing. She is very self-conscious about her weight and remains constantly apprehensive about going to school, where she is bullied.
She tries to seek comfort in her rich and successful, but estranged father, David Reid (Sam Neill), by writing him endearing letters informing him about her day-to-day troubles and anxieties. After David divorces Caroline’s mother, Gail (Rebecca Gibney), she seeks comfort in her sympathetic neighbour, Elizabeth Barber. Distraught Caroline follows her mother to the neighbor’s house and sees the happy household of the Barbers. There she notices their daughter, Rachel, a much younger and beautiful girl in a great outfit practicing a beautiful dance.
She immediately sees her as an embodiment of the perfect person she wants to be. She develops an obsession to study her and be like her. At her home, she continually practices how to be best friends with Rachel but fails to confront her in reality. Caroline distances herself from her depressed mother and tries to be closer to her father by putting her flaws on the table so he can comfort her. However, David’s indifference towards Caroline grows with time; he sees her only as a liability, and minimizes her anger and tantrums.
In Her Skin
Directed by: Simone North
Starring: Guy Pearce, Sam Neill, Miranda Otto, Rebecca Gibney, Ruth Bradley, Kate Bell, Justine Clarke, Diane Craig, Maya Aleksandra, Taryn Marler, Dena Kaplan
Screenplay by: Simone North
Production Design by: Peta Lawson
Cinematography by: Jules O’Loughlin
Film Editing by: Jane Moran
Costume Design by: Terry Ryan
Art Direction by: Jenny O’Connell
Music by: Ben Frost
MPAA Rating: R for strong disturbing violence, some sexuality, nudity and language.
Studio: IFC Films
Release Date: February 11, 2011
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