In Her Skin

In Her Skin
Directed by	Simone North
Produced by	Tony Cavanagh Executive: Maureen Barron Catriona Hughes Jason Moody John Keating Leesa Kahn
Written by	Simone North
Based on	Perfect Victim by Elizabeth Southall Megan Norris
Starring	Guy Pearce Miranda Otto Kate Bell Khan Chittenden Sam Neill Rebecca Gibney Ruth Bradley Jack Finsterer Robert Braiden Jerome Velinsky
Production company	Screen Australia Liberty Films International
Distributed by	Goldcrest Films (international)
Release date	2009 (2009) 2013 (Australian pay TV premiere)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English
Budget	$7.5 million

In Her Skin (also known as I Am You from the working title How to Change in 9 Weeks) is a 2009 Australian drama movie written and directed by Simone North. The film is based on the true story of the brutal murder of 15-year-old Rachel Barber, who went missing on 1 March 1999. It was later discovered that Rachel was murdered by a former neighbor and family babysitter, Caroline Reed Robertson.

In Her Skin is inspired by the book Perfect Victim by Elizabeth Southall (Rachel's mother) and Megan Norris (an Investigative reporter).

The film's story is told from alternating points of view; the victim, the victim's parents, and the murderer. Flashbacks reveal details about all of the characters, including the motive of the murderer.

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 Carella "Manni".

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.