By Brady O’Neil – Staff Reporter

Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” tells the story of two brothers who made headlines in 1989 for killing their parents in their Hollywood mansion. Created by Ryan Murphy, the show explores whether the brothers were driven by years of sexual and verbal abuse, or killed their parents for the sole purpose of gaining their inheritance. 

In the series, Lyle and Erik Menendez, played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, aren’t portrayed as just heartless killers. Instead, Murphy explores whether the brothers acted out of revenge after years of alleged abuse by their father. The brothers claim that José Menendez was physically and sexually abusive, leading them to believe that they had no other way out. This changes how we view them and adds to their personalities, making them seem like victims and violators. However, because the accusations were made after Kitty and Jose were killed, it makes it much more difficult to believe that the brothers didn’t kill their parents for the money. 

One of the best parts of the series is how it shows the media interest that came with the case. Back in the 1990s, this was one of the first murder trials that was broadcast on TV, which turned the Menendez brothers into household names. Journalists and the public couldn’t get enough of the drama, and the series captures that with scenes showing reporters camping outside the courthouse and debates on TV about whether the brothers were innocent victims or cold-blooded killers. It also brings up how the media can influence people’s views on high-profile cases, sometimes making it hard to see the full truth. This can be seen at the end of the first trial, where an overflow of outside influences caused a mistrial.

Despite its interesting story, others argue that “Monsters” crosses the line and adds unproven details to the story, like an alleged relationship between the brothers. This feels like it was included there to spike viewer interest, which has upset some people who think this part isn’t true. However, the series does bring awareness to male abuse, a topic that’s rarely discussed in the same way as female abuse. Murphy also uses flashbacks and intense close-up shots, especially in scenes where Erik opens up about his trauma. Even if the show sometimes goes overboard with the drama, the series was very interesting and is a must-watch.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars