Under the Bridge: Undiscovered drama tells the truly 'haunting' true story of teenager Reena Virk's brutal murder by her 'friends'
The 14-year-old went to a party and never returned home...
Under the Bridge is a gritty dramatisation of a true crime which is “almost too awful to believe”, and it’s streaming for free on ITVX now.
The limited series is based on a horrifying true story that took place in 1997. That year, in Canada, a 14-year-old schoolgirl went to an island party to meet friends and never returned home. Police subsequently accused seven teenage girls and a boy of the savage murder.
In 2024, Hulu released this eight-part drama, an adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey’s 2005 book on the sickening murder. At the time, reviewers praised Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone’s performances. Critics and fans also recognised the drama’s focus on the complexities of teen bullying and social alienation, rather than sensationalising the violence.
Here’s the drama Under the Bridge unpacked, which is currently streaming on ITVX.
***Warning: contains disturbing details about the murder of a teenager***
What is Under the Bridge on ITVX about?
Under the Bridge is a “haunting” drama, an adaptation of Rebecca Godfrey’s “terrifying” 2005 book of the same name.
A synopsis explains: “One moonlit night, 14-year-old Reena Virk went to join friends at a party and never returned home. In Under the Bridge, acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls – and boy – accused of a savage murder.
“As she follows the investigation and trials, Godfrey reveals the startling truth about the unlikely killers.”
The TV dramatisation is “an unforgettable look at a haunting modern tragedy”. Viewers follows a writer and a cop as they investigate the brutal murder tied to a group of troubled teens.
It’s a crime that, sadly topical, cuts straight to the heart of society.
Is it a true story?
Under the Bridge is inspired by the tragic true story of Reena Virk, who was savagely murdered in cold blood on November 14, 1997.
The 14-year-old Canadian girl was severely beaten and subsequently drowned by two teenagers, Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski, in the Gorge waterway in Saanich, British Columbia. The culprits were her so-called friends.
Reena was an outsider who desperately wanted to fit in with a rebellious group of local teens. But they targeted her. Reena was “swarmed” by the teenagers beneath the Craigflower Bridge. They targeted her because of how she looked and where she came from. The group stubbed lit cigarettes onto her forehead, tore out her hair, and kicked her repeatedly in the face and body. Then the group dispersed. However, two of them followed her…
Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski caught up with Reena as she tried to walk away. They continued the assault until she was unconscious. The two killers then drowned her in the Gorge Waterway.
Tragically, her body was found eight days later. Police eventually arrested seven teenage girls and a boy for the savage murder. A judge subsequently convicted Kelly Ellard and Warren Glowatski of second-degree murder.
Who is in the cast?
Lily Gladstone stars as local police officer Cam Bentland in the crime drama. Lily, who was raised on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, is perhaps most famous for her Oscar-nominated performance in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). The 39-year-old is also famous for playing Roxanne in Billions.
Riley Keough, 37, stars as writer Rebecca Godfrey. The Californian actress is known for her roles in The Girlfriend Experience, Daisy Jones & The Six, and The Terminal List.
Vritika Gupta portrays murder victim Reena Virk in Under the Bridge. It is arguably the former child star’s biggest role to date.
Other notable cast members include Javon ‘Wanna’ Walton and Izzy G as killers Warren Glowatski and Kelly Ellard. British actress Archie Panjabi stars as Reena’s grieving mum Suman Virk.
RileyKeough and Lily Gladstone star in this haunting drama inspired by a tragic true story. A writer and a cop investigate a brutal murder tied to a group of troubled teens.
Where is killer Warren Glowatski now?
Warren Glowatski was convicted of second-degree murder for the 1997 death of Canadian teenager Reena Virk. He was released on full parole in 2010 with the support of his victim’s parents. He has maintained a private life since his release and has not sought public attention.
While incarcerated, Glowatski participated in restorative justice programs and expressed deep remorse for his actions. He engaged in counselling and took on a mentor role, speaking to at-risk youth about the dangers of violence and bullying.
What happened to Kelly Ellard?
Kelly Ellard was convicted of second-degree murder in 2005. However, it took her nearly 19 years after the crime to confess. After her admission of guilt in 2016, Reena’s grandfather admitted she’d never “said sorry”.
A judge sentenced Kelly to life in prison with no possibility of parole for seven years. She was granted day parole in November 2017, allowing her to participate in activities during the day, and return to prison or a halfway house at night. In 2019, Ellard’s parole was extended to overnight stays outside of prison.
She now goes by the name Kerry Sim and is back in federal prison. Her day parole was officially revoked in 2025 due to a positive drug test and behavioural breaches, and her appeal to reverse this was denied in March 2026. She was described as posing “an undue risk to society”.
During her time in prison, she has given birth to two children.
Under the Bridge reviews
The Guardian’s critic said: “Under the Bridge knows not to glorify law enforcement as hyper-competent, or to privilege perpetrators’ emotional lives over a faceless victim’s, or to depict gratuitous violence. As an exercise in how to make entertainment out of a real crime with real perpetrators and victims – particularly Virk, ably embodied by Vritika Gupta – Under the Bridge is self-aware and empathetic, clearly thinking through implications, its heart in the right place.”
The Killing Times wrote: “Under The Bridge is a good series. Intense, moving and ambitious in its storytelling, it tries to do justice to the life of 14-year-old Reena Virk, who was tragically and senselessly murdered on the island of Saanich, British Columbia (Canada) in 1997.
“It’s a true, bone-shakingly real crime story that is brought to life for television.”
Variety added: “Much more than a retelling of a horrific true crime, Under the Bridge is a show about longing, otherness, race and the frailties of community. The series was greenlit in 2022, a week before Godfrey’s death at 54 from lung cancer.
“Sharp and devastating, Under the Bridge is an absorbing examination of cruelty, why some people receive empathy over others and how our own biases can prevent us from recognising the truth. The series is a reminder of the anguish of rejection for teens, especially girls — and how that can manifest into something grotesque.”
Read more: New documentaries and true crime on TV and streaming in June 2026
