A cold-blooded murder, or a desperate act of self-defense?
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” offers a chilling dramatized perspective on a crime that captured the nation, not just in 1996, but to this very day.
The show is inspired by the true story of Erik and Lyle Menendez, who conspired and committed the murder of their parents, José and Kitty Menendez, in 1989.
The show decided to take some creative liberties, and the results were chilling and interesting, making viewers jump out of their seats at certain scenes and moments, and has caused controversy online since its September Netflix release.
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” was directed by Michael Uppendahl (“The Walking Dead,” “American Horror Story”) and stars Chloë Sevigny (“American Psycho”), Javier Bardem (“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”), Nicholas Alexander Chavez (“General Hospital”) and Cooper Koch (“Swallowed”).
There is a lot of talent on the screen, which is used very well. The actors work very well together, especially Chavez and Koch, who play the Menendez brothers. The chemistry between the two really shows, and when they are on screen together, you can feel the dynamic siblings would have.
The show is definitely jaw-dropping and there are several moments where viewers need to pause and think about what they just watched.
Without spoiling anything, there is a moment at the dining room table with all of the actors together where viewers can see and feel the dysfunctionality of the Menendez family.
Another unhinged moment is Kitty Menendez’s inspection of Erik Menendez, where she forces him to undergo an examination for signs of disease, driven by José Menendez’s obsessive fears of his son’s sexuality. It was intense and dark while also being a good watch.
Overall, the performances left something to be desired, with key moments failing to resonate as they should have, especially regarding the backstories of José and Kitty Menendez.
There are a few issues with the show. There are a couple of dumb decisions made by the producers that portray Erik and Lyle as monsters and undermine what the brothers have been through in real life, in order to dramatize it for entertainment.
In the show, Erik, whose sexuality is speculated in real life, has this aspect of his identity explored upon the show, while Lyle is portrayed as a monster who committed the murder without any remorse or emotion. These things were unnecessary to be in the show, but other than that this is a show you should simply say “yes” to and binge.
Despite some issues with the portrayal of the characters, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has intense, exceptional performances and a thick plot that keeps viewers watching, earning the show a solid B.
News Reporter Nicholas Basile can be reached at [email protected].
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