It details the downward mental spiral of Esther, a woman (played by de Van) who engages in increasingly destructive acts of self-mutilation following an accident that injures her leg at a party.

One night, whilst attending a house party with colleagues, Esther (Marina de Van), a marketing professional in Paris, hurts her leg in the backyard on some industrial supplies.

After the party, Esther visits a doctor (Adrian de Van) who patches her up and wonders why she didn't initially feel the injury.

At work, Esther impulsively runs into a filing closet and proceeds to cut herself further with a random piece of metal.

Esther checks herself into a hotel across the road and proceeds to cut and chew at her hands and thighs, leaving large bite marks.

She also leaves a phone message for Vincent telling him she won't be home that night.

[2] Stephen Holden of The New York Times called it "as unrelenting an exploration of isolation and dissociation, as Roman Polanski's Repulsion.

"[3][4] Albert Nowicki of Movies Room ranked it among the fifteen best overlooked 21st century indie films.

[6] The same year, the Museum of Modern Art showed it as part of its Messaging the Monstrous: Body Horror film series.

[7] In promotion of In My Skin screening at MoMA, critic Elizabeth Horkley wrote of its contemporary relevance: "Far from a product of Munchausen's syndrome, Esther's need to self harm seems to stem from a desire to be the sole caretaker—and decision maker—for her body.