In Hulu’s “Under the Bridge,” based on a true-crime book by Rebecca Godfrey, childhood innocence is shattered by violence, lies, and tragedy. It tells the story of Reena Virk, a 14-year-old Canadian girl murdered in 1997 by her peers, revealing a disturbing tale of kids harming each other in unimaginable ways, with motives we may never fully understand.
The series starts as a gripping and emotional drama, steering clear of typical true-crime clichés. However, it loses its way in the second half, introducing too many new plotlines without tying them up, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. While the first four episodes pack an emotional punch, the later ones struggle to maintain the momentum.
Despite its aspirations for impactful storytelling, “Under the Bridge” falls short of its potential. Still, the story it tells is undeniably important and deserves attention.
Hulu True Crime Series “Under the Bridge” Trailer
In “Under the Bridge,” Reena (played by Vritika Gupta) is a troubled teenager in a small town in British Columbia. She feels out of place and resents her Jehovah’s Witness mother, Suman (played by Archie Panjabi). Seeking acceptance, Reena falls in with a group of girls fascinated by LA street gangs. At a hostile party, she’s attacked by a gang of teens under a bridge. Although she survives the assault, her lifeless body is discovered days later.
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Investigating the case is local cop Cam Bentland (portrayed by Lily Gladstone), who suspects Reena’s supposed friends Josephine (Chloe Guidry), Dusty (Aiyana Goodfellow), and Kelly (Izzy G.). Meanwhile, writer Rebecca (played by Riley Keough) is also delving into the mystery, trying to befriend the teens to uncover their secrets. Her attention turns to homeless teen Warren (Javon “Wanna” Walton), whose role in Reena’s death remains unclear at first.
“Under the Bridge” employs the overused technique of non-linear storytelling, exploring the murder from multiple perspectives. Cam and Rebecca, old friends with conflicting agendas, navigate their roles in prosecuting and defending different individuals involved in the case. Meanwhile, the teens grapple with the aftermath of Reena’s death, dealing with denial and guilt. Flashbacks reveal Reena’s experiences of ostracism due to race or body type.
Despite competent performances from Gladstone and Keough, Cam and Rebecca come across as the least compelling characters. This is understandable given that Cam is a composite figure representing law enforcement, and Godfrey, the real author, wasn’t directly involved in the case. Their narratives feel secondary to the more gripping storyline about the unsettling reality of violence among young people.
As “Under the Bridge” progresses, it fails to provide meaningful insights into adolescence, violence, or race, despite the intriguing premise of why teenagers would commit such a terrible crime. Creator Quinn Shepherd’s scripts feel incomplete, leaving characters like Warren underdeveloped initially, despite their later importance. The tragic backstories of Cam and Rebecca seem disconnected from their present actions.
The flaws become more evident in the second half of the series. Whether due to the challenge of balancing fictionalization with real events or the pressure to deliver a satisfying conclusion, the final four episodes suffer from a lack of depth and weaker character development and performances.
“Under the Bridge” stands out in the crowded true crime genre by striving to honor Reena’s memory and by crafting a compelling narrative when centered on her rather than her perpetrators. However, this effort falls short in the later, more directionless episodes.
In the final moments, as title cards disclose the fates of those involved in Reena’s death, the series reminds us that real-life stories don’t always have tidy endings. Unfortunately, the same can be said for fictionalized versions of these tragedies.
Under the Bridge Review
The conclusion of “Under the Bridge” appears to be a mixed one. While the series endeavors to honor Reena’s memory and explores compelling themes when focused on her, it falters in later episodes, which are criticized for being directionless and lacking depth.
The title cards in the final moments, revealing the fates of those involved in Reena’s death, serve as a reminder that real-life stories often lack perfect resolutions, a sentiment mirrored in the fictionalized portrayal of the events. Overall, the series seems to have received praise for its intentions but criticism for its execution in the latter part of the narrative.