How Ryan Murphy’s Menendez Brothers Show Has Reignited a Decades-Long Controversy

As someone who has spent years delving into the intricacies of true crime narratives, I find myself both captivated and disturbed by the re-emergence of the Menendez brothers’ case in popular culture. Having followed numerous cases throughout my life, I have come to realize that these stories serve as a mirror reflecting our society’s darkest impulses, desires, and fears.

A gripping tale from the past, famous faces entangled in vile deeds, a tempest of debate stirred up so swiftly that Glen Powell couldn’t control it, and a merry-go-round of flamboyantly dramatic actors—all signs point to one thing: another Ryan Murphy true crime production.

Last week, “Monsters: The Tale of Lyle and Erik Menendez” debuted on Netflix, marking the second chapter in a series that started with the 2022 release of “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story“. Similar to its controversial forerunner, this series revisits a notorious historical crime, providing an intense and possibly non-factual account. In this instance, it focuses on the 1989 double murder of Kitty and José Menendez, carried out by their sons Lyle and Erik.

Murphy casts newcomers Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle and Cooper Koch as Erik alongside seasoned actors Chloë Sevigny as their mother and Javier Bardem as their father in his portrayal of the sensational crime that shook America during the early days of courtroom television. The case, initially presented by prosecutors as a story of two brothers murdering their parents for a piece of their multi-million dollar estate, became more intricate when the siblings testified about decades of sexual abuse inflicted upon them by their father while their mother stood by, either oblivious or turning a blind eye. They pleaded self-defense, asserting they believed their parents intended to kill them, but at the trial’s conclusion, both were found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, serving their time in prison currently.

Similar to how Murphy’s portrayal of Dahmer brought renewed attention to a case that had been largely forgotten in everyday conversations for many years, despite being popular topics on true crime podcasts and TikTok’s true crime sections, the series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has once again thrust the Menendez brothers’ case into the limelight. This revival has sparked several intriguing questions: Was the jury too severe in their verdict against Lyle and Erik? Would modern society be more sympathetic to their claims of sexual abuse if the trial occurred today, in our post #MeToo era? How does gender factor into this story? Is it ethical to produce a series like this when both brothers are still alive and subject to the justice system? Lastly, some people are questioning whether Ryan Murphy’s exploration of such cases has crossed the line into exploitation. In just a few short days, this production has ignited these complex questions, and the responses have been far from uniform.

Monsters’ depiction of Erik and Lyle Menendez

How Ryan Murphy’s Menendez Brothers Show Has Reignited a Decades-Long Controversy

The central figures in the Netflix series titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” are the titular brothers, portrayed by Chavez and Koch. The show chronicles their actions as they devise and execute the murder of their parents using illegally obtained shotguns, leading to their arrest, imprisonment, legal representation, and subsequent court trial. Throughout this narrative, they reveal the abusive environment of their childhood, including vivid descriptions of their father’s repeated sexual abuse, as well as regular humiliation and neglect at the hands of their alcoholic mother.

In this drama, Chavez portrays Lyle as the strong, unapologetic older brother, while Koch’s character, Erik, is depicted as younger, sensitive, and somewhat defenseless, akin to a deer in distress. The bond between the siblings is established from the start, but it’s a bond that’s a bit too intimate, as hinted by Nathan Lane’s character, Dominick Dunne from ‘Vanity Fair’, with a suggestive wink that leaves no room for ambiguity. Intriguingly, the series explores the idea of incest, and there are instances where a sexual relationship between the two brothers is implied, both in the episodes and promotional materials. The first episode features a power struggle kiss between them, and later in the show, it’s rumored that they were seen showering together by Sevigny’s character, Kitty.

It’s likely no secret to those familiar with Murphy’s work that the narrative’s scandalous core is portrayed bluntly. Instead of compassionately delving into the repeated occurrence of trauma, there are numerous instances where the story veers towards sensationalizing forbidden topics.

The portrayal in the series seems to downplay the atrocities alleged by the Menendez brothers, but this is not entirely accurate. In fact, the on-screen characters describe their traumatic experiences in graphic detail, sometimes leaving viewers with an uncomfortable feeling of authenticity. A striking example is an extended scene where Koch conducts a 37-minute unbroken shot, vividly discussing his harrowing childhood, with the persistent sexual abuse depicted as a chilling manifestation of evil under cold, fluorescent lights.

But this is often undermined by the series’ predilection for smut. You could argue that the juxtaposition between how the brothers retell their traumas over and over and the prurience with which they are treated by the outside world is a reflection of how the public treated their case, but when Chavez and Koch are seen soaping each other up in suds in a vanity shot, it’s hard to conclude that the show is prioritizing respect over low-hanging thrills.

Erik Menendez slams Monsters

How Ryan Murphy’s Menendez Brothers Show Has Reignited a Decades-Long Controversy

Among the numerous online chatter, even from those yet to experience the entire 10-episode run of “Monsters,” one perspective stands out unmissably – the personal insights of Erik Menendez himself.

Erik, currently imprisoned in California, made a statement about the series through his wife Tammie’s X account. He married Tammie within prison walls in 1999. In his statement, he expressed disappointment about the portrayal of Lyle in the show, stating that it was based on “lies and destructive characterizations.” He believes these distortions were intentional, suggesting that the creator, Ryan Murphy, either knowingly or intentionally misrepresented their real-life facts.

I find it disheartening to acknowledge that Netflix’s depiction of our crime’s tragedies seems to be misleading. This portrayal appears to have pushed the raw truths several steps back—all the way back to a time when the prosecution constructed their narrative around an outdated belief system, suggesting that males were not susceptible to sexual abuse and that they experienced trauma from rape differently than women.

He ends the note by asking, “Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth.”

The show delves into the personalities of both Lyle and Erik, with the intent of maybe uncovering their true selves. As real-life Erik Menendez points out, Lyle is often portrayed as a callous yuppie, yet there are instances where his emotional side emerges, particularly when he discusses his past sexual abuse and the remorse he felt for not being able to shield his brother from harm.

In the series, Erik’s sexuality becomes a significant theme, with Murphy often questioning Erik’s sexual orientation. During the trial in 1993, the prosecution subtly suggested that Erik was gay as a tactic to undermine his claims of abuse by his father. The show delves into Erik’s fluid sexuality, depicting scenes between him and another inmate in prison. Erik confides in his lawyer Leslie Abramson (played by Ari Graynor) that he struggles to define himself due to the profound impact of his father’s abuse. Times have certainly changed since the early ’90s, but Murphy’s fascination with a morally ambiguous queer antagonist can sometimes feel intrusive and presumptuous.

The case for their exoneration

How Ryan Murphy’s Menendez Brothers Show Has Reignited a Decades-Long Controversy

Although some critics may have issues with the show’s depictions, they might still appreciate that Murphy’s perspective on the Menendez brothers’ story has sparked renewed calls for their innocence. For a long while, the general public has largely associated the case with the prosecution’s claim that they were pampered rich kids aiming to eliminate a hurdle to further wealth. Consequently, the case hasn’t received much cultural empathy. However, the brothers’ harrowing testimonies about their abuse, which are strikingly similar to what was portrayed in Monsters, have left many viewers questioning why so little empathy was shown towards them during their trial.

As the story unfolds, it becomes more and more heartfelt in its portrayal of the brothers, devoting a significant portion of the narrative to exploring the devastating effects of their past abuse. This is shown through graphic flashbacks and subtle indications of unresolved trauma in their adult lives, such as during courtroom scenes.

Currently, snippets from the court proceedings of the two siblings are resurfacing on the internet again. Some of these clips are compared side-by-side with scenes from the movie “Monsters,” serving as a testament to the show’s authenticity. Additionally, the clips stand alone as proof of their emotional ordeal. The concept for the series was sparked by the abundance of content related to this case on TikTok, a platform known for its thriving true crime community. Many users have taken up the Menendez brothers’ exoneration cause and this show’s popularity is likely to draw in more viewers and supporters.

Various videos depicting the court proceedings, police interrogations, and television interviews of Erik and Lyle are being ripped and uploaded to a platform in large numbers. Some of these videos feature flashy editing reminiscent of pop music videos, intended to amplify the feeling of a dystopian society as perceived by the content creators. These clips can aid or obstruct investigations; for instance, they led to fresh findings in the 2021 case of Gabby Petito, who was killed by her boyfriend. However, they can also perpetuate harmful biases, as seen in the response to the defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which is often marked by misogyny.

Kim Kardashian visits the brothers

Over the past few years, Kim Kardashian has taken an active role in advocating for criminal justice reform. She’s been meeting with presidents to argue for the release of individuals who were wrongfully imprisoned, like Alice Marie Johnson in 2018, and she’s also produced a reality show that follows her work aimed at reducing mass incarceration.

According to TMZ, the famous actor, along with Koch who portrays Erik in the show, made a visit to the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. The purpose of their visit was to discuss a rehabilitation project aimed at improving prison grounds, a project that is reportedly led by the incarcerated brothers themselves.

Some might approach the visit with a critical eye; Kardashian, who’s involved in prison reform and also works with Ryan Murphy, recently featured in the latest season of “American Horror Story”. However, regardless of the reasons for the visit, Kardashian’s history of bringing attention to cases that require re-examination could potentially aid those working towards exoneration.

Netflix’s spotlight on the case continues

Following the massive popularity of “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story“, it seems the streaming platform anticipated intense curiosity about the Menendez case upon the series’ release. To capitalize on this, they have prepared a documentary series to continue the storyline. Notably, this one has the approval from the Menendez brothers themselves.

On Monday, just four days following the debut of “Monsters,” I learned that a documentary series would be premiering on October 7th. This captivating series includes recorded audio interviews with the brothers from prison, alongside discussions with other significant figures associated with the case. In the trailer, one of the brothers, Lyle, intriguingly remarks, “Perhaps now, people can grasp the truth about why we committed the crime.

Erik subsequently states, “Someone else narrated the account of our lives; it’s not typical for two children to engage in such a crime for monetary reasons.

Following Erik’s public dissatisfaction with Murphy’s fictional portrayal of their tale, Netflix is ready to transport viewers’ curiosity straight to the top of the streaming rankings. If viewers were disturbed by the creative liberties taken by Murphy, they might opt for the Menendez-endorsed series instead. It’s quite possible that those who devoured the original series will also be pressing play on the documentary series.

The devil works hard, but Netflix works harder.

2024-09-24 19:07