Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story parents guide: Nudity and violence factor into TV-MA rating

As a seasoned gamer and avid consumer of media, I have seen my fair share of graphic content. However, the new Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” takes the cake when it comes to mature themes and explicit content.

On the 19th of September, Netflix released the second season of its Emmy-winning anthology series titled “Monster”. This new season focuses on “The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, a retelling of the brothers’ infamous trial from the ’90s where they were charged for the murders of their parents, Jose and Kitty.

The television series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” carries a TV-MA rating, indicating that it’s intended for mature viewers only and should not be viewed by younger audiences. This is because the show contains explicit content such as nudity, violence, sexual abuse, child abuse, and drug use, to name a few. Therefore, parents are advised to carefully review the program’s content before deciding if it’s suitable for viewers under 18 years old.

For the undecided, here’s a brief summary of the series content to assist you in deciding if it aligns with your preferences and is suitable for younger members in your home.

Warning: Spoilers ahead. 

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story does contain nudity 

Throughout the nine-episode series, there are numerous instances of nudity and sexual content. This includes a short sex scene between two characters, as well as frequent brief glimpses of male rear nudity and one scene with female upper body nudity. The show also contains several nude scenes, such as a shower scene in the first episode where Erik, played by Cooper Koch, is shown naked from the back; however, there is no frontal male nudity depicted in this particular scene.

There is however more graphic male nudity in the show, particularly in episode 3 in which the characters of Lyle and Erik are in prison. 

In one sequence, the character Lyle, portrayed by Nicholas Alexander Chavez, is shown using a shared shower, which includes explicit male nudity. Similarly, within the same episode, there’s a scene where the character played by Koch is discovered naked, implying that he has been subjected to a search of his prison cell and a body search. The scenes include full male nudity for visual representation.

The third episode this season includes instances of both male full-frontal and back nudity. In a particular scene, Erik, played by Koch, notices another inmate during shower time. Their gazes lock, and throughout the interaction, Erik’s private areas are visible several times as he cleans himself and maintains eye contact with the other inmate. Although it is suggested that the other inmate is also nude, there are no instances of frontal or back nudity from him in this scene.

Although Koch hasn’t spoken about the nudity in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”, he has openly discussed nudity as an actor, having taken part in nude scenes for both theater productions like “Hair” and films such as “Swallowed”.

In college, I took part in performances that required me to be nude on stage. Additionally, I collaborated with a director on an art installation where I was also nude. These experiences have given me some background in using nudity as a performer, and I’ve always found it to be handled tastefully and creatively. When discussing my role in Swallowed, I shared this insight with The Queer Review.

Apart from displaying full-frontal and back male nudity, numerous scenes show the male cast members without shirts, in underwear, or wearing swimsuits like speedos. In episode 6, there’s a scene where an older character requests a male prostitute to assume a position on all fours and remove his towel from him while he lies down on a couch. Although no nudity is shown, both characters are bare-chested, and the scene suggests they were only wearing towels at the time.

Violence and Language

The show “Monsters” undeniably features intense violence, particularly in its opening episode, where it graphically portrays the murders of Jose and Kitty Menendez. This gruesome scene is filled with gun violence depicting the deaths of the characters, showing blood splatter, dismembered limbs, and a shocking moment when one character’s brain splatters due to gunshot wounds. The camera focuses closely on the blood and wounds inflicted by the gunshots, and the series revisits this scene through flashbacks, reminding us of the murders.

Throughout its nine episodes, the show isn’t shy about using strong language, including a significant number of profanities, particularly the “f-word”. Additionally, it tackles the sensitive subject of sexual abuse with explicit dialogue that may be distressing to some viewers and is unsuitable for younger audiences.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story addresses triggering topics 

The television series contains several scenes and topics that might be distressing for some viewers. These elements include substance abuse such as smoking, drinking, and portrayals of drug use like cocaine use in episode 2. Furthermore, there’s a scene in episode 8 where a man forcibly gives pills to a woman, making her unconscious and requiring medical assistance.

For individuals unaware of the situation, the defense strategy of Lyle and Erik Menendez centered around them responding out of fear, as they testified that their father had been sexually abusing them for extended periods, with their mother apparently supporting this abuse. This theme is explored in depth in the television series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

In the show, numerous discussions delve into the hardships endured by Erik and Lyle, such as the abuse they experienced and the psychological impact of their parents’ treatment, which often led them to contemplate suicide. These conversations about the abuse can contain explicit details that might be distressing for viewers.

If you or someone you care about requires assistance concerning sexual abuse or harassment, RAINN is reachable 24/7 via phone at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online through their website at rainn.org.

If you’re feeling hopeless or contemplating suicide, reach out to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline anytime, day or night, at 988.

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2024-09-19 23:58