As a seasoned cinephile who’s seen more than my fair share of true crime dramas, I must admit that “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” left me feeling a bit drained. It’s not often that a series attempts to tackle such a notorious case, but this one falls short in many ways.
The Netflix Series ‘Monsters: The Menendez Brothers Story,’ crafted by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, serves as a chilling reinterpretation of the notorious crime. The drama focuses on the characters Lyle (played brilliantly by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (impressively portrayed by Cooper Koch), who are brothers in this production. It is suggested that they were subjected to severe emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father, José (powerfully acted by Javier Bardem), and mother, Mary Louise, or ‘Kitty’ (Chloë Sevigny). Allegedly driven by this mistreatment, they commit a heinous act – cold-blooded murder of their own parents. The series delves into the brothers’ upbringing, the murders, and the subsequent events, but it tends to drag on and become overwhelming. The production aims to explore the factors leading to the crime while emphasizing Erik and Lyle’s suffering. However, by the end, the storyline feels pointless and odd.
As I sit in a sleek limousine, humming Kenny G’s “Songbird” on the radio, Lyle and Erik – my brothers – are en route to our parents’ memorial service, two months after their tragic demise. While Lyle, the elder sibling, maintains an air of calm composure, Erik breaks down in tears, his emotions pouring out unexpectedly. This initial scene effectively paints a vivid picture of who we are: one brother, raw and emotional, and the other, a tightly coiled bundle of anger. October 1989, “Menendez” unfolds.
The story switches between different time periods. It reveals the oppressive atmosphere that enveloped the Menendez family, ultimately driving the brothers to commit matricide. Bardem plays a chilling and malevolent José, while Sevigny portrays a cold and pitiful woman. As for Erik and Lyle, they embody a disturbing mix of arrogance and victimhood.
The killings are portrayed in vividly gruesome detail, and the storyline outlines several errors made by the police that initially allowed the brothers to evade suspicion. In the aftermath of the murders, Erik, filled with intense suicidal thoughts and haunted by memories of his deceased parents, confesses his crimes to his therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel (Dallas Roberts), eventually leading to their arrest and detainment. Judalon Smyth, skillfully played by Leslie Grossman, provides a captivating performance as Dr. Oziel’s mistress and former patient who plays a crucial role in the brothers’ apprehension and 1993 trial. The series further presents defense attorney Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor), whose determination and ability are stereotyped by the sexism prevalent in the legal field, the court system, and her sympathy for Erik.
In the series “Menendez,” the first part is commendable, but Episode 5, titled “The Hurt Man,” truly shines. Although no sexual abuse is shown directly, Erik extensively discusses with his attorney Leslie the extensive abuse he suffered throughout his life at the hands of his father. The episode is creatively filmed in a single take, with the camera gradually focusing on Erik’s face as the scene unfolds.
Regrettably, after its fifth episode, the show seems to take a dive and becomes too complex in tone. This inconsistent style oscillates between dark seriousness and exaggerated humor, leading to an internal collapse. The remainder of the episodes become tiresome as they lack variety and essentially repeat the same themes.
In “Episode 6,” titled “Don’t Dream It’s Over,” we delve back into José and Kitty’s relationship, starting from their romantic beginnings to their tumultuous marriage. This episode reveals their troubled childhoods, marked by abuse, and provides a platform for Bardem and Sevigny to display their exceptional acting skills. However, despite these powerful scenes, the episode fails to significantly enhance the overall suspense or depth of the series. It would have been more effective if these flashbacks had been incorporated into the early episodes of the show instead.
The upcoming episodes maintain an equally challenging pace. Similar to their portrayal in “Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” Murphy and Brennan delve into significant characters associated with the Menendez brothers and their tribulations. Dominick Dunne, a reporter for Vanity Fair (played by Nathan Lane), becomes obsessed with the case’s intricacies, driven by his personal loss – his only daughter was a victim of violence. With a relentless pursuit for justice in both the courtroom and public opinion, he particularly targets Erik and Lyle. Episodes 7, “Showtime,” and 9, “Hang Man,” offer a unique take on Kitty and José’s murderers through Dunne’s lens. He also guides us through the brothers’ prison experiences, detailing their relationships within and beyond the prison confines. While Nathan Lane delivers an exceptional performance, his character doesn’t significantly contribute to the overall narrative progression.
In the show, much like real life, the siblings face two trials over a span of seven years – a repetitive and irritating courtroom drama that unfolds in “Menendez”. The scenes are filled with an unsettling tone, making them seem like a lengthy, monotonous process that emphasizes numerous witnesses, legal tactics, and testimonies.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Los Angeles stood out distinctly due to several significant events. The beating of Rodney King, the ensuing riots, California’s capital punishment laws, and even O.J. Simpson’s arrest and acquittal were part of the brothers’ experiences. However, instead of gently incorporating these incidents into the storyline, Murphy and Brennan choose to forcefully emphasize them repeatedly. At one point, Erik even communicates with Simpson from an adjacent cell, advising him to accept a plea bargain.
Despite its captivating theme and impressive acting, the show “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” struggles to find its identity, resulting in a narrative that primarily focuses on recounting horrific abuses and grisly crimes. However, the main concern isn’t just about the program itself; it’s about us as a society. By giving exposure to individuals like the Menendez brothers, who are notorious for their heinous acts, we may be unintentionally fostering our own hidden darkness. This raises questions about the societal acceptance of such troubled figures, especially when their backgrounds might include extreme trauma.
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is now available to stream on Netflix.
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2024-09-19 23:18