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In My Skin

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66% Tomatometer 44 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A Parisian marketing professional, Esther (Marina de Van) has a gruesome secret. She's been obsessed with the damage she can inflict upon her own body ever since sustaining a deep cut in an accident. Esther cuts her flesh with knives, scissors and other sharp household objects. Her behavior, of course, deeply worries her boyfriend Vincent (Laurent Lucas), but Esther can't stop harming herself. Soon her self-mutilation places her in mortal danger.
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In My Skin

Critics Reviews

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Chase Hutchinson Seattle Times This macabre, mournful vision uses gore to excavate the agony buried deep inside a woman whose life is coming undone, creating a compassionate character study that never blinks in the face of violence. Sep 6, 2025 Full Review Michael O'Sullivan Washington Post As it is, it's a silly, if simultaneously deadpan and stomach-churning, psychological portrait of one crazy lady. Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Gary Dowell Dallas Morning News All you're left with is a bloody mess, in more ways than one. Rated: C Feb 19, 2004 Full Review Emilie Black Cinema Crazed A bit controversial, a bit subversive, a whole lot of intimate connection with the material, Marina de Van serves here an incredibly powerful piece of cinema about the body, the connection to one’s own body, and life as a woman. Rated: 5/5 Jul 30, 2022 Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) ...a spiral of alienation and sensual fascination... Feb 1, 2022 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Unpleasant and irredeemable. Rated: 0/5 Nov 2, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I guess I'm not a fan of self mutilation like I thought I was. This is a very disturbing plot that is very unique. The execution is good, so I guess I'm just not a fan of the subject matter. Plus it felt like things got stupid at times between Ester and her partner. It's categorized as horror but it's not really a horror. More psychological and gory. If you're into self mutilation, this is for you. Anyone else may have a tough time with it. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Audience Member Highly original French horror...though not for all tastes--This one gets under your skin...One of the first real French sickies!! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member I have watched a lot of disturbing movies but this might be at the top of the list. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A bizarre and disturbing movie very much reminiscent of David Cronenberg's work. It's strangely captivating and keeps pulling surprises, climaxing at the absolutely brilliant dinner scene. Unfortunately it somewhat loses direction towards the end, and leaves you with a feeling that the story is somehow incomplete. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member A woman becomes dangerously obsessed with her body after a disfiguring accident. De Van's eccentric and even aggressive body horror film will certainly split audiences in half - mostly because of its visual explicitness. However, what is most daunting about the film is that the uncomfortable and disgusting gory sequences are quite length and sometimes pad the lack of a rewarding plot, also concealing its simplicity. In My Skin is not particularly remarkable as an experimental work either - its parallel meaning and comments of self destructive vices, which are implied within the storyline, aren't very challenging. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member One of a kind film. This is how it feels to lose control and lose your mind to anxiety and depression. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
In My Skin

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Cast & Crew

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Marina de Van

Director

Marina de Van

Esther

Laurent Lucas

Vincent

Léa Drucker

Sandrine

Thibault de Montalembert

Daniel

Dominique Reymond

La cliente

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In My Skin

In My Skin (2002) In My Skin (2002) In My Skin (2002) A scene from the new film "In My Skin." A scene from the new film "In My Skin." A scene from the new film "In My Skin." A scene from the new film "In My Skin." A scene from the new film "In My Skin." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A Parisian marketing professional, Esther (Marina de Van) has a gruesome secret. She's been obsessed with the damage she can inflict upon her own body ever since sustaining a deep cut in an accident. Esther cuts her flesh with knives, scissors and other sharp household objects. Her behavior, of course, deeply worries her boyfriend Vincent (Laurent Lucas), but Esther can't stop harming herself. Soon her self-mutilation places her in mortal danger.
Director
Marina de Van
Producer
Laurence Farenc
Screenwriter
Marina de Van
Distributor
Wellspring Cinema
Production Co
Canal+
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Canadian French
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 7, 2003, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Apr 20, 2004
Box Office (Gross USA)
$31.0K
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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