By Adrienne Morris
The Netflix show Monsters was released on September 19, 2024. This series tells the story of Erik and Lyle Menendez, the infamous brothers who murdered their parents in their Beverly Hills home in 1989. This case was far from cut-and-dry. Throughout the brothers’ trial, the ugly truth was slowly uncovered, unraveling years of trauma, never before talked about.
The Story
Jose Menendez was a powerful man. He was a movie director and producer, connected in Hollywood and the production industry. In 1997, he was elected to represent San Antonio in the 6th District Office, and planned to run for governor. In the eyes of the public, Jose was a role model. But, behind closed doors, Jose was not the man he was made out to be. During their trial, his sons, Erik and Lyle Menendez, claimed to be physically, mentally, and sexually abused by both their mother and father. The cards were stacked against the Menendez brothers from the get-go. Although the brothers had the vote of the public, the court was against them. Despite the evidence of abuse, the court saw Erik and Lyle as two spoiled, disobedient Beverly Hills boys. They were sentenced to two consecutive terms of life without chance of parole in separate prisons for the premeditated murder in the first degree of their mother and father.
The Portrayal
The Netflix show Monsters portrays the life of the Menendez brothers leading up to the murders. The show considered both or the following theories. First, that the Menendez brothers were severely abused by their parents, and shot them as a means of self defense. Second, that the brothers were really just cold blooded killers who were in it for the money. The show allows you to make the decision for yourself. Who are the brothers to you? The main issue regarding the show is the portrayal of Lyle Menendez specifically. His character was very much exaggerated. The preexisting assumptions about the kind of person Lyle Menendez is were overemphasized. The show made Erik out to be what people said he was: spoiled, mean, aggressive. Not a boy susceptible to abuse, but a man whom many feared. A man who reflected his father. A man who threatened people, fought people, lied, stole, and bought his in and out of things. What they did not include in Monsters was the facts. Erik and Lyle Menendez had the brain age of 7 at 17 and 18 years old. Both boys had proof of multiple, very serious, abuse related injuries over the course of their entire lives. Erik had proof of bruising in the back of his throat that had gone back years into his childhood. The truth about the show was that the characters were truly just characters. The only accurate representation of real-life Erik and Lyle was their testimonies.
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