In Her Skin (2009)

Most thrillers that are based on a true story, I tend to stay away.  Just the thought that what I'm watching actually happened, pretty much disturbs me.  I pretty much have to be in a right mood to watch a movie like In Her Skin 

The story takes place in Melbourne, Australia, in 1999.  Michael Barber (Guy Pearce) is waiting in the train station for his daughter, Rachel (Kate Bell), who is taking dancing lessons out of town.  Michael noticed that his daughter hasn't arrived, so he calls his wife, Elizabeth (Miranda Otto).  Wondering where Rachel is, Elizabeth starts calling Rachel's boyfriend and friends.  When they notice that Rachel still hasn't showed up, the Barbers really start to worry.  They try to report it to the police, but they believe that Rachel just ran away.  Later, Rachel's boyfriend calls back and tell  Elizabeth that Rachel was taking a job, but didn't know where.  All that he knows is that job was offered from an old friend of Rachel's.  Sadly, the Barbers don't know who.

Now we are in the second part and are introduced to Caroline (Ruth Bradley).  We see her in the Barber's house, babysitting their kids.  She's typing a letter to her dad (Sam Neill), who walked out on the family a while ago.  Caroline is dealing with a mental issue, which caused a lot of problems with her parents.  She cusses at her mom.  There's a scene where she bumps her brother while going down stairs.  And then rips the letters to her dad and lit them on fire in the trash bin.  We then see a scene where Caroline is all grown up.  She has a office job and her own little pad.  While at lunch, she's having lunch with her co-workers and sees Rachel and her boyfriend making out.  It seems that Caroline is jealous of Rachel.  Rachel is pretty and skinny, while Caroline tells herself she's fat and ugly.  While back at her apartment (after having some mental breakdown), Caroline comes up with a plan to bring Rachel to her place and end her "so-called" perfect life.

And now we're at the final act.  In this one, we get to know Rachel a little bit.  Rachel is a dancer with a good looking boyfriend and a couple of friends.  Pretty much Rachel is someone that is liked by many.  While walking around town, she tells her boyfriend about a job, but she can't tell much about it.  Only that it's for some research for a friend.  Rachel and Caroline finally meet up and go to the apartment.  Caroline offers Rachel a drink and asked her to relax and close her eyes for the research.  And then the horrible thing happens, which was terrible to see.  Especially seeing Rachel's parents turning the town upside down to find her.  Only to know that Rachel was murdered.  

We see Michael and Elizabeth Barber again, this time they meet a detective who is willing to help find Rachel.  The detective was able to find Rachel after getting access to her cell phone records.  Which of course will lead him to Caroline's place.  Sadly the detective had to be the bearer of bad news to the Barber family.

"In Her Skin" is a movie that can be any parents worst nightmare.  Especially seeing that the crime was done by someone they've trusted.  I find Ruth Bradley's portrayal of Caroline to be very disturbing.  It was great seeing Sam Neill, since I haven't seen him in movies that much.  The only problem I have with the movie is the very end of the film.  The song that was playing during Rachel's funeral seemed too upbeat.  And the scene in the prison yard, with Caroline being happy, just didn't felt right.  But it really is a good flick.  If you're familiar with the case or are into true crimes, then check it out.  It's a well made flick.