Under the Bridge is a compelling crime drama and at times, a shocking one, too. It's even more unnerving to realise it's based entirely on a true story – the violent murder of 14-year-old Indian Canadian girl Reena Virk at the hands of her peers.
Virk's murder shook Canada to its core in the late '90s. The story was later turned into a wildly successful true-crime novel by Rebecca Godfrey (played by Riley Keough in the series). Under the Bridge takes moments from Godfrey's book – also called Under The Bridge – and the memoir of Reena Virk's father, Manjit Virk – Reena: A Father's Story – to form its plot and help fill in finer details.
Despite this, the warning at the start of each episode stating some elements are "fictionalised or invented for dramatic purposes" can make one wonder just how much of the story actually happened.
Here, we answer the questions you may have had while watching Under the Bridge. Which parts of this riveting drama were real and which were invented for the series?
If you haven't seen Under the Bridge yet, it isn't too late to watch right now on SBS On Demand.
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Under the Bridge
series • biography
MA15+
series • biography
MA15+
Here is the fact and the fiction of Under the Bridge. The following facts may discomfort some readers.
Is 'Under the Bridge' a true story?
Yes. 14-year-old Reena Virk (played by Vritika Gupta) was killed in a bullying incident under the Craigflower Bridge in her hometown of Saanich, British Columbia.
Six teenagers, who became known as the "Shoreline Six" (named after Shoreline Community Middle School) were tried and convicted for assaulting Virk. It is reported that they swarmed her and beat her, leaving her bloody and bruised. Upon trying to leave the area, Virk was followed and attacked by two other individuals, Warren Paul Glowatski (Javon Walton) and Kelly Marie Ellard (Izzy G), who knocked her unconscious and left her body in the Gorge Waterway, where she later drowned. Glowatski and Ellard were tried as adults and convicted for Virk's murder.
Izzy G as Kelly Ellard in 'Under the Bridge'. Credit: Jeff Weddell.
In MSCNBC's Dateline episode titled Bloodlust Under the Bridge, Nicole Cook (named Josephine Bell in the series and played by Chloe Guidry) admitted to lighting a cigarette and putting it out on Virk's forehead to imitate the placement of a bindi. This action is reported to be the beginning of Virk's assault.
Cook also returned to the scene of the crime to retrieve Virk's sweater and shoes, forcing another resident to hide them in the girls' group home. This ultimately led to the resident contacting the police.
Who is Lily Gladstone's character based on?
Lily Gladstone plays Indigenous police officer Cam Bentland in the series, a character invented solely for Under the Bridge.
Lily Gladstone as police officer Cam Bentland in 'Under the Bridge'. Credit: Darko Sikman.
"The murder happened just by tribal land," she said.
"The bridge connects the municipality to a reserve. So inherently, there’s a First Nations presence in the story. I thought it was a brilliant construction to have a First Nations, adopted cop, who feels compelled to Reena in a way that becomes clearer and clearer to her."
Thus, Bentland's relationship with Rebecca Godfrey is also fictionalised, but its adds a layer of depth to the story that makes Under the Bridge just that much more interesting to watch.
You can catch Lily Gladstone in the following films:
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Who is Riley Keough's character based on?
In Under the Bridge, Riley Keough plays Rebecca Godfrey, author of the true crime novel of the same name. Though Godfrey did in fact investigate the murder closely, she was not as actively involved in the story as the series suggests. In fact, in her novel, she is not even a character.
Riley Keough as Rebecca Godfrey in 'Under the Bridge'. Credit: Darko Sikman.
Shephard and Mehta felt that telling the story through a slightly fictionalised version of Godfrey helped to ground the series in a central character. It also allowed Godfrey's perspectives in her novel to be displayed showcased in a single character, instead of making it the "only definitive account of the crime".
The series also explores the death of Godfrey's brother, Jonathan, (named Gabe in the series), who also coincidentally drowned. Though in her novel, Godfrey did not draw parallels between that experience and the murder of Reena Virk like the series does.
You can catch Riley Keough in the following films:
Stream free On Demand
Under the Silver Lake
comedy • mystery • 2018
comedy • mystery • 2018
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comedy • 2024
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Under the Bridge is now streaming on SBS On Demand.
Stream free On Demand
Under the Bridge
series • biography
MA15+
series • biography
MA15+
If you, or someone you know, needs assistance please contact the following organisations:
Lifeline
Telephone: 13 11 14
Kids Helpline
Telephone: 1800 55 1800
Web: kidshelpline.com.au
Beyond Blue
Telephone: 1300 22 4636
