‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Review: A Fascinating But Flawed Entry In Ryan Murphy’s Anthology
Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story displays a change in tone compared to the first season of the series, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. While the show’s first season took viewers to the edge of horror by portraying the disturbing inner self of one of America’s most infamous serial killers, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story takes a different direction. Read further in our full Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story review.
It brings in viewers to face the absurdities of wealth and privilege and at the same time, reveals the characters in a morally ambiguous way. The second season combines darkness with a sense of humor which creates a very offbeat thought-provoking experience.
Even though I only watched Dahmer from reels and various analysis videos online, I noticed that Menendez is totally different from it. Instead of Dahmer taking us to the dark side of the character through a scary and exploiting eye, Menendez provides us with a greater sense of the absurd yet unsettling narrative.
The series follows the notorious criminal case of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who were convicted for the murder of their parents in 1989. We were not only led to the horror of the crimes, but also brought into the brothers’ world to understand their life under unfriendly conditions. They present themselves as victims of a troubled upbringing, claiming they suffered sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. This narrative allows the storytelling to have light moments of humor amid the grim events, making the emotional stakes feel less overtly traumatic.
The emotional stakes are less about the brutality of the crimes and more about the bizarre nature of the Menendez story itself. At times, Murphy’s treatment of the material comes close to being strange, and it feels almost silly in light of the seriousness of the subject matter of the Menendez brothers’ case. This choice may alienate some viewers who seek a more traditional portrayal of true crime, but I found that one of the outcomes of this treatment offered a fresh perspective on the often sensationalized world of criminal narratives. The series challenges audiences to engage with its themes of privilege, trauma, and the complexities of familial relationships.
One of the standout elements of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is its casting. I have never seen Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle) and Cooper Koch (Erik) in anything before, but they delivered captivating performances that embody the contradictory nature of their characters. They both have good chemistry and are very convincing together as brothers. They’ve played their privileged yet deeply troubled characters in a charming yet detestable manner.
The series is also supported by an incredible cast of supporting characters. Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny play José and Kitty Menendez, the brothers’ parents. Bardem’s performance encapsulates what appears to be a loving father, while simultaneously revealing the deeper darkness surrounding him. Murphy used flashbacks to symbolize the tension between being a victim and being a villain. This ambiguity manifests in the family dynamic as well, creating a complex family portrait that does not offer simplified answers for viewers. Compelling character development like this allows us to
Murphy compels the audience to question their sympathies throughout the series. While season 1 centered around the basics of sympathetic character in the character’s ruthlessness, Menendez does the opposite. The storytelling nudges the audiences to consider when the brothers began to justify claims of being victimized while also recognizing the morally abusive situation that inspired them.
As a fan of police procedural and legal dramas, the courtroom scenes are particularly compelling, as they convey a mixture of gravitas and absurdity. These moments demonstrate the event of the trial that entranced America and showcased the ways in which money and privilege shaped the trial. The wealth of the brothers created a platform that ignited public imaginings, adding yet another layer of complexity. Murphy investigates the dynamic between victimhood and guilt, and the result is a case that is as morally implicit as the characters.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story may not reach the heights of Dahmer’s emotional and suspense manner, it compensates with moments of dark humor which breaks the tension instead. This switch in tone, while jarring at times, is interesting and I found scenes that flowed seamlessly from the serious to the tragic comedy. One moment I found striking, which was darkly funny but really tragic too, was when Lyle’s mother pulled off his wig while at the dinner table. This was darkly funny and really tragic which sums up the conflicted nature of the series and its peek into the Menendez family’s dysfunction.
Throughout the series, Murphy displays vibrant shopping montages, as well as scenes that showcase the extravagant living of the Menendez brothers, ands at times it feels like the series exists to criticize wealth and privilege, but at the same time, it feels like the show is relishing in the excess – which can oppose the tragedy at hand at times. This stylistic choice raises questions about the ethical implications of dramatizing real-life events and the responsibility of filmmakers to their subjects.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has avoided the sensationalism that bogged down Dahmer’s story and dived headfirst into the more nuanced implications of power, privilege, and trauma. While not as infuriating as Dahmer, it connects viewers with rich, complex themes of victimhood and accountability in a way that leaves audiences pondering the intricacies of human behavior.
Same as Dahmer, the series is likely to provoke equal amounts of admiration and backlash when some viewers grapple with the inconsistencies and shifts in its tone. Murphy’s exploration of the Menendez case manages to be both absurdly comedic and tragically serious—a reflection of the complexities that define human relationships. While it doesn’t achieve the same level of impact as The People vs. O.J. Simpson, it certainly carves out its niche within the true crime genre, ensuring that viewers remain captivated by the unfolding story.
In conclusion, Ryan Murphy’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story offers a fresh yet unsettling take on true crime, diverging from the horror-driven narrative of Dahmer. Dark humor juxtaposed with the complexities of privilege and trauma, Monsters asks viewers to find their way through the morally ambiguous landscape of the Menendez story.
The standout performances from Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch flesh out the multilayered dynamics of the family and characters, and provoke audiences to reconsider their sympathies. While it may not be as evocative as other true crime narratives, Monsters’ unique tone and thought-provoking themes ensures that it resonates and sparks discussions about victimhood, accountability, and the absurdities of wealth. Ultimately, Murphy’s exploration captures the messy intricacies of human relationships, solidifying the series’ place within the genre.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan. The series stars Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Chloë Sevigny, and Javier Bardem. All episodes are now streaming on Netflix.
