The Menendez brothers’ case became one of the most infamous true crime stories in the 1990s. Netflix further explores this crime case in the series, ‘Monsters’: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, offering a dramatised retelling of the high-profile crime that shocked the world. The show recounts how Erik and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home on August 20th 1989. However, the circumstances of why they murdered their parents are still heavily debated today. The brothers claim that their killings were an act of self-defence. They say that they were sexually, physically and emotionally abused by their father, to which the mother was allegedly aware and complicit.
The case gained worldwide media attention rapidly, and the crime became a media spectacle due to its televised trials and extensive tabloid coverage. In 1996, the brothers were sentenced to life in prison for their murders. The show dives into the years of deep-rooted issues within the Menendez family dynamic. This shapes viewers to rethink whether the brothers were heartless, cold-blooded killers or if the murders were justified because they were scared young men who were just trying to protect themselves.
Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, released on September 19th, 2024, reignited one of the most publicised and controversial crime stories in the US. This series follows a similar success to Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, which was released in 2022. The Menendez series offers an extensive retelling of a real-life tragedy for entertainment purposes, which informs public opinion and challenges the ethics of the justice system.
The show portrays the highly publicised court trials of Erik and Lyles’ testimonies in an emotional and thought-provoking way. Some debate that the heavy emphasis on abuse and trauma during the testimony reveals the series bias. The show raises moral questions, and the viewers’ beliefs on the matter were divided. Some believed that they were spoiled rich kids wanting to inherit their parents’ wealth, while others thought they were horrifically abused and were just trying to escape the trauma.
One of the greatest strengths of this series, which contributed to the success of Monsters, is the performance of the actors in the show. Cooper Koch, who plays Erik Menendez, and Nicholas Chavez, who plays Lyle Menendez, are commended for their authentic portrayal of the brothers, who portray a mix of violence and vulnerability. A controversial take is that the show emphasised the brothers’ humanity, which reduces their portrayal as vicious villains, which impacts many viewers who are positioned to feel empathetic for the abuse that the boys dealt with at the hands of their parents.
One of the most significant episodes and most striking creative decisions made in this series is episode 5, entitled ‘The Hurt Man’, which is a single-shot, 33-minute zoom into actor Koch’s face as he details to Leslie the harrowing years of sexual, physical and mental abuse at the hands of his father. This episode dives deeply into the psychological trauma that Erik and Lyle claimed forever impacted their lives. This episode draws viewers into feeling Erik’s pain and trauma from dealing with years of harrowing abuse from his father. Despite the incredible acting, the episode has drawn criticism as some people believe that the episode places too much emphasis on Erik’s version of events without providing enough counterbalance to the prosecution’s perspective.
Despite creating such a gripping and well-acted series depicting a real-life scenario, the show is not without its critics. Some argue that it frames the Menendez brothers as victims in this situation, positioning them as tragic figures rather than convicted murderers. Another issue regarding the Monsters series is the question of ethics surrounding true crime on screen. Is it okay to dramatise a real-life tragedy for entertainment? Critics of the show say that they are sensationalising real and horrific violence for profit. However, supporters of the show argue that it brings to light real issues of abuse and the complexities and problems present within the justice system.
When the series was released, many memes and edits were posted, which had an impact on influencing public opinion on the case. A TikTok edit of Chavez’s portrayal of Lyle went viral, receiving over 7 million likes. While these edits represent a wide cultural reach from the show, they also reveal how easily dramatisations can distort public opinion. The young demographic viewers of TikTok were idolising Lyle. This risks reducing the severity of the crimes committed, positioning the Menendez brothers as tragic heartthrobs rather than convicted killers.
The show reignites a debate over whether the Menendez brothers deserve to be released or to stay in jail. The push to free the ‘menendi’ has become stronger and more prominent since the release of the Monsters series. It’s clear that the evident family trauma adds complexity to this case. Yet its presence of sensationalism and one-sidedness prevents it from delivering a fully balanced account. Overall, Netflix’s Monsters ensures that the Menendez case remains a topic of debate about whether the brothers are victims or heartless monsters and highlights the complexities evident in adapting serious crimes for television.
Holly Catsoulis 
Caitlin 
Clara