Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story dives into one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history, capturing the public’s attention in the early 1990s.
The beginning of the series is set in October of 1989, just two months after the killings. Lyle (Nicholas Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch) are seen riding in a limo on the way to their parents’ memorial service. The older of the two, Lyle, is seen as composed but Erik is seen shedding tears.
After the scene concludes, the narrative switches back and forth—from before the killings, to their trial and everything in between. Even the scene of the murders is shown on screen in highly graphic detail, but the episode that stands out the most is episode 5, entitled “The Hurt Man”. In this episode, Erik speaks to his lawyer Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor) and describes the sexual abuse he faced at the hands of his father, even adding that he was once sexually abused by his brother.
The case itself is heart wrenching but critics are holding the writers of Monsters, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, accountable for their portrayal on the story. Even Erik Menendez released a statement on the series saying: “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward — back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.”
This isn’t the first time Ryan Murphy was criticized by the public. Back in 2022, Murphy released Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Both projects experienced backlash, mainly for inaccuracies, forgetting key details and failing to speak with those who were a part of the cases.
Erik and Lyle Menendez are both serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the murders of their parents. However, after serving nearly 35 years behind bars, the brothers could possibly walk free.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced in a press conference on Oct. 3 that he believes the brothers’ case deserves to be re-evaluated following the discovery of new evidence—a letter supporting their sexual abuse claims the brothers’ defense attorney Cliff Gardner says was written by Erik to his cousin, Andy Cano, in December of 1988—eight months before the crime.
Gascón revealed his long awaited decision in the case on Thursday, saying the brothers have “paid their debt to society.”
The petition asks the court to resentence the brothers to 50 years to life on two counts of first-degree murder. Under California law, they would be eligible for youth parole since they were under the age of 26 at the time of the murders.
Now that the district attorney’s office has filed the petition, A hearing on the matter could be held in 30 to 45 days, which will go before a judge. If the judge sides with the defence and district attorney, the California parole board will evaluate whether the brothers are safe to re-enter society.
Ultimately, Monsters is a disturbing watch. However, viewers should recognize the line between reality and dramatized narratives used for shock value. While it’s clear that the brothers committed this crime, their motives remain the most troubling question for viewers.