Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez story – A new perspective on a notorious case
Revisiting a dark chapter in Beverly Hills
The infamous case of the Menendez brothers, who brutally murdered their parents in 1989, has once again captured public attention. The new series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, invites viewers to step into the jury box and reconsider the case with a modern understanding of trauma and abuse.
Trauma and its generational impact
Javier Bardem, who portrays the father, José Menendez, emphasized the series’ focus on the consequences of trauma. “Unless it is properly addressed and healed, it’s going to have a huge, horrible, dramatic effect on generations to come,” Bardem shared at the Los Angeles premiere.
A multifaceted narrative approach
The creators of the series have adopted a Rashomon-style approach, presenting multiple perspectives to allow the audience to form their own conclusions. Writer and producer David McMillian explained, “We wanted to really present a lot of different points of view, and then let the audience sort of decide what to take.”
Director Carl Franklin, who helmed the first two episodes, added, “You can’t make a moral or emotional judgment on anybody. You have to basically take the material and put yourself inside of it and present the strongest case for each one of the actors, for all points of view.”
Authentic recreation of the era
The series meticulously recreates the late 1980s and early 1990s Los Angeles. Leslie Grossman, who plays key witness Judalon Smyth, noted the authenticity, saying, “My sister-in-law was in class with Erik. I could name 10 people off the top of my head that knew those brothers. It was wild to revisit it in this way and remember very vividly what it was like to be in L.A. at that time.”
Composer Thomas Newman, along with his daughter Julia, crafted a soundtrack that captures the essence of the era. Julia Newman remarked, “These places you drive through every single day are part of this broader story about murder and family. This story really is tapped into the fabric of Los Angeles.”
A more sensitive lens
Jess Weixler, who portrays Lyle’s attorney Jill Lansing, highlighted the shift in societal attitudes towards abuse, particularly for men. “There is something very different about this case now than there was then, in how people approach abuse in that way for men. I don’t know if it would have changed the outcome of the trial, but I do think it would have been treated more meaningfully and less like a ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch,” she elaborated.
The actors’ deep dive into their roles
Producer Ryan Murphy, known for his award-winning productions, cast Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Erik and Lyle Menendez, respectively. Both actors immersed themselves in the case, consuming interviews, documentaries, books, and the entirety of the televised trial. Koch reflected on the emotional toll, saying, “You’re sort of creating trauma for yourself, which is difficult to carry, but ultimately very rewarding and fulfilling to understand and empathize with a person who’s been through something so, so difficult and tragic.”
Koch particularly praised the fifth episode, titled The Hurt Man, which delves into Erik’s self-perception growing up. “The hurt man is what Erik calls himself growing up,” he added.
Chavez echoed the sentiment, noting, “This show creates such conflicting emotions. I think that’s what has made this case so compelling for so long. I’m really interested to see what the public consensus is – or even if there is a consensus.”
A personal connection to the story
Nathan Lane, who portrays the late journalist Dominick Dunne, shared insights from a conversation with Dunne’s son, Griffin. “I said, ‘Well, how would you like to see your father portrayed?’ And he said, ‘I’d like people to know what a passionate advocate he was for the victims, and how that trial changed his life, professionally and personally.'”
Expanding the universe of true crime
With American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez premiering earlier this week and Grotesquerie next week, Ryan Murphy continues to explore the dark corners of true crime. Murphy recently announced that Charlie Hunnam will portray notorious serial killer Ed Gein in Monster Season 3. McMillian commented, “There are too many monsters in the world. It’s not just about choosing a monster, but also finding a way to make that story fresh for a different generation.”
Explore more
For those eager to dive deeper into the world of the Menendez brothers, check out the Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story trailer and information page.
Photos from the premiere:
- Javier Bardem, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, and Chloe Sevigny
- Nathan Lane and Leslie Grossman
- Javier Bardem, Cooper Koch, Nicholas Chavez, and Ryan Murphy
- Cheyenne Jackson
- Ari Graynor
- Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
- Leslie Grossman and Billie Lourd
- Paris Barclay and Christopher Barclay