‘Monsters’ Cast Responds to Erik Menendez Slamming the Series: ‘You Should Probably See It Before You Speak Out Again’

As a seasoned movie critic with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has left me both intrigued and perplexed. The portrayal of real-life characters always presents a unique challenge, as we strive to balance authenticity with artistic license.

In response to criticism from real-life Erik Menendez, who labeled a Ryan Murphy-produced miniseries titled “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” as misleading and inaccurate, the show’s stars Cooper Koch and Nicholas Chavez have spoken up. This television drama depicts the lives of brothers Erik and Lyle, who allege they endured abuse at the hands of their parents during their childhood years. The pair were convicted for murdering their mother and father in 1989. Following two trials, the siblings were given life sentences in 1996.

Actor Koch, portraying Erik Menendez in the show, shared that he could relate deeply to the character based on real life.

His response clearly touched me on a personal level,” he admitted. “I can relate to his struggles, I feel for him. I comprehend the immense pain of having one’s darkest moments broadcasted to millions worldwide. It’s a vulnerable situation. I sense his emotions and I stand united with him. As for interacting with him and playing the part, I aimed to delve deeply into research and self-exploration to portray him truthfully and authentically. This was my way of showing respect for him, his family, and everyone who supports him.

Nathan Lane, who plays journalist Dominick Dunne on the show, expressed doubt about the authenticity of Menendez’s response, given that he had not seen the television series yet.

He mentioned that the person hasn’t watched the show yet,” he pointed out. “Given this fact, his criticisms and condemnations may not hold much weight. After all, having one’s life depicted in a Netflix miniseries can be quite an experience, especially if you weren’t one of the producers. It’s possible that not everything will be favorable or pleasing to you. My suggestion would be to watch it again before expressing your opinions.

Javier Bardem, portraying family head José Menéndez in the series, commented that, although he hasn’t fully read Erik Menendez’s critique, he views it as a reasonable response to the show’s presentation.

He admitted he’s heard the comments, but hasn’t reviewed them yet,” he explained. “It’s completely reasonable for someone to express their thoughts about their personal life being showcased. I wholeheartedly agree with that. Creators like Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan each have unique perspectives on various issues, which adds depth to the narrative. This flexibility is essential as actors, allowing us to adapt and change our approach based on who’s narrating the story at any given moment.

As a creator of this captivating series, I defended our creative decisions regarding Erik Menendez’s criticism on Tuesday. Our approach, similar to the classic tale “Rashomon,” explores the perspectives of all four individuals involved. Regrettably, two of them are no longer with us. However, we felt it was essential as storytellers to delve into the parents’ viewpoint too, based on our thorough research that guided our narrative construction.

The Netflix release of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” has sparked controversy since its mid-September premiere. Critics such as Aramide Tinubu from EbMaster have given it mixed reviews, stating that the series lacks clarity in its purpose, leading to a repetitive narrative of heinous acts and shocking crimes.

2024-09-25 19:50

‘Monsters’ Cast Responds to Erik Menendez Slamming the Series: ‘You Should Probably See It Before You Speak Out Again’

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