Netflix has recently released a new series called Monsters: The Menendez Brothers, which highlights the case of Jose and Kitty Menendez who were murdered by their sons, Erik and Lyle. This case began in 1989 and has been a relevant topic since then. The show has received a lot of backlash due to controversial themes .
The series is meant to be a drama show while still portraying the story of the Menendez family and the events that occurred in their lives. The show explores the brothers’ lives before, during, and after the night of their parents death, highlighting their mental states and thought process throughout the case.
There are details in the show that were tweaked by creator Ryan Murphy that don’t align with the true story. The Menendez brothers have spoken out about it. “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward through time,” Erik Menendez’s wife, Tammi, spoke out on X after seeing the series.
The brothers have taken matters into their own hands, releasing an accurate documentary on Netflix called The Menendez Brothers. The overall viewing experience seems very similar. People are enjoying the series, but seeing that the series is a dramatic version of their story and not the most accurate depiction of the case. “I felt as though the show portrayed the brothers as sociopaths in order to draw more attention to the show. I had mixed feelings once finishing the series, regarding the brothers such as feelings of deep disturbance and sympathy for the brothers and the way they endured their abusive childhood,” Oakdale senior Elena Robyns states.
This series has become very popular with the young-adult age group. It has received lots of recognition on social media, which majorly pulls in teenage attention. “I would definitely recommend the show to people intrigued by the case,” Oakdale senior Maria Thomas expresses.
Though the show has been proven to be somewhat inaccurate, it is still a well produced show that continues to grow in popularity; it now has over 30 million views. Lots of people have been recommending and sharing about the show the past few weeks. “I would strongly recommend this show to other people. As a whole, the show incorporates many different appeals such as a complex plot and a somewhat accurate portrayal of a relevant true story,” Robyns shares.
Monsters: The Menendez Brothers is purposefully a very dramatized and suspenseful show. The purpose of The Menendez Brothers documentary is to be factual and set the story straight. People who have seen the documentary seem to see big differences between the two shows and what is highlighted in each. “It painted a better picture of their case compared to the show and I enjoyed hearing the brothers actually sharing their experiences and speaking out about this.” Maria states. The two have very big differences in some aspects and have different goals for the public. Monsters: The Menendez Brothers is for publicity and to portray the general story dramatically, while The Menendez Brothers is a documentary from the brothers themselves, setting the story straight.
In conclusion, Monsters: The Menendez Brothers is worth watching for entertainment purposes but to learn more about the case or the brothers, this is not the most reliable source to choose. I would recommend watching The Menendez Brothers, the documentary, instead because it is a direct project from Erik and Lyle Menendez.
