In a new Hulu series titled "Under the Bridge," based on Rebecca Godfrey's nonfiction account, viewers are immersed in the picturesque community of Victoria, British Columbia. The show delves into the haunting story of 14-year-old Reena Virk, who goes missing after attending a party near the infamous Craigflower Bridge.

The series, which was greenlit in 2022, a week before Godfrey's passing at 54, goes beyond being a simple retelling of a horrific crime. "Under the Bridge" delves into themes of longing, otherness, race, and the vulnerabilities of a community. The story features multiple characters and jumps through various timelines, but it begins on November 14, 1997, the day of Reena's tragic death.

Reena's desperate desire to fit in with Josephine Bell, a foster child obsessed with John Gotti, and her group of followers, Kelly Ellard and Dusty Pace, leads to her expulsion from their inner circle. As Reena tries to regain her place in Josephine's favor, author Rebecca, haunted by her own childhood tragedy, returns to Victoria after a decade to write a novel. When news of Reena's disappearance spreads across the island, Rebecca embarks on a quest to uncover the truth.

Tensions arise as Rebecca's fixation clashes with childhood friend and police officer Cam Bentland, as well as Reena's grief-stricken parents, Manjit and Suman, who never had the chance to repair their relationship with their daughter.

"Under the Bridge" uses flashbacks and flash-forwards to reveal the reasons behind the monstrous act that led to Reena's murder. The series explores Reena's feelings of ostracization due to her Indian heritage and her family's faith as Jehovah's Witnesses. She becomes infatuated with Josephine, who possesses the freedom and fearlessness that Reena craves. Seeking attention and camaraderie, Reena's behavior spirals out of control, eventually resulting in her expulsion from her parents' home.

The unfolding events highlight the fragility of adolescents' capacity for compassion, influenced by the actions of the adults around them. "Under the Bridge" provides insights into the perspectives of the young people involved in the crime, as the adults grapple with understanding the brutality of Reena's murder. Rebecca, desperate for absolution from past guilt, seeks humanity in the perpetrators' actions. Meanwhile, Cam, an Indigenous woman, recognizes the racial undertones that framed the attack on Reena.

The series tactfully avoids graphic violence, recounting the brutality of Reena's final moments through the eyes of the teenagers present. As Rebecca struggles to write her book focused on Reena and the teens involved in her death, she realizes that the story she seeks isn't what she initially thought. Instead, she confronts the truth about the perpetrators and the errors of her own past, which shape the present.

With its sharp and devastating portrayal, infused with a '90s hip-hop soundtrack, "Under the Bridge" is a compelling exploration of cruelty, empathy, and the biases that hinder us from recognizing the truth. The series serves as a poignant reminder of the anguish of rejection experienced by teens, particularly girls, and how this can manifest into something grotesque. It sheds light on the importance of guidance and listening ears in curbing the torment they inflict upon one another.

The first two episodes of "Under the Bridge" will premiere on April 17th on Hulu, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly on Wednesdays.