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Key Takeaways
- Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez dramatized the murder case using creative license, and it’s unlikely to impact their bid for a retrial.
- Netflix’s upcoming documentary, The Menendez Brothers may offer new insights that could aid in their retrial.
- The true-crime series portrays the brothers’ perspectives and abuse claims, potentially leading to a public outcry.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is Netflix’s new true crime drama that tells the story of the murders of José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, which was carried out by their sons in Beverly Hills, California in August 1989. The release of the drama has raised questions about the case and whether it could have an impact on their ongoing appeal, and possibly lead to their release.
Monsters season 2 doesn’t offer up any new evidence, but it is likely it could change the public perception of the brothers and the mitigating circumstances that led to the brutal murders. Also, Netflix will air a documentary titled The Menendez Brothers on October 7, 2024, that could shed more light on the case and help their bid for a retrial. The notorious brothers’ bid for a renewed look at their case is currently under review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story Is A Dramatization Of Events, So It Is Unlikely To Have Much Impact On The Case
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Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story |
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Starring |
Cooper Koch, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Javier Bardem, Chloe Sevigny and Ari Graynor |
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Written by |
Ryan Murphy |
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Created by |
Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan |
Episode Titles
- Blame It On The Rain
- Spree
- Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?
- Kill Or Be Killed
- The Hurt Man
- Don’t Dream It’s Over
- Showtime
- Seismic Shifts
- Hang Men
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is an entertaining retelling of the events that led up to the famous double murders, but not a true crime masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination. It adopts a huge amount of creative license, with a number of factual inaccuracies throughout the season, meaning it’s unlikely to have much bearing on the outcome of Lyle and Erik’s bid for freedom. Erik’s wife Tammi Menendez released a statement on X after the release of the drama, to detail her husband’s issues with the series:
I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.
This isn’t the first time a Ryan Murphy production has come under scrutiny for its factual inaccuracies, with Netflix’s American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson also bending the truth in order to tell a good story.
The Menendez Brothers Documentary Will Provide A Better Chance Of A Positive Outcome In Their Bid For A Retrial
It’s been over 30 years since Lyle and Erik Menendez were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal 1989 murder of their parents. A new Netflix documentary titled The Menendez Brothers will air on October 7, following the release of the popular drama series about the case, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, released on September 19.
The new true crime documentary will tell Lyle and Erik Menendez’s story in their own words, with exclusive interviews from both brothers, and others involved in the trials. Erik and Lyle Menendez are both currently incarcerated at Donovan Correctional Facility in California, and they were interviewed over the phone about the trials. The trailer for the documentary debuted on September 23, and it featured clips of the recorded calls. The description for Netflix’s new true story reads:
In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. For the first time in 30 years, and in their own words, both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation. Through extensive audio interviews with Lyle and Erik, lawyers involved in the trial, journalists who covered it, jurors, family, and other informed observers, acclaimed Argentinian director Alejandro Hartmann offers new insight and a fresh perspective on a case that people only think they know.
The documentary will feature a more accurate version of events that could potentially help the Menendez brothers in their appeal for a new trial. The documentary will focus on the abuse the brothers claim they suffered at the hands of their father over the years, and this could lead to a public outcry that could help their case. Nothing can excuse the horrific murders they committed, but if there were a series of incidents that led up to it, the severity of their sentencing could be challenged.
The Menendez Brothers Documentary Key Facts
- Available to stream on Netflix on October 7, 2024
- It features new interviews with Lyle and Erik Menendez, as well as their cousin Diane Vander Molen and prosecutor Pamela Bozanich.
Everyone asks why we killed our parents. Maybe now people can understand the truth. What happened that night is very well known but so much hasn’t been told.
