Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is Netflix’s latest true crime offering that we think will keep viewers hooked. The series tells the true story of two brothers who murdered their parents and later claimed to have been victims of physical and sexual abuse. It promises to be a hit for the streaming platform. Here’s everything you need to know…
When will the show be released?
The show will be on our screens from September 19th. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer.
What is the show about?
The synopsis states: “(The story tells) the case of the real-life brothers who were convicted in 1996 of the murder of their parents, José and Mary Louise ‘Kitty’ Menendez.”
“While prosecutors argued they were trying to inherit their family’s fortune, the brothers maintained – and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole – that their actions were based on fear of a lifetime of physical, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents.
© MIKE NELSON“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story delves into the historic case that took the world by storm, paved the way for audiences’ modern fascination with true crime, and in turn asks audiences the question: Who are the real monsters?”
Who is in the cast?
Javier Bardem plays José Menendez, while Matryoshka star Chloë Sevigny plays Kitty Menendez. The two brothers are played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik, while Nathan Lane plays Dominick Dunne and Ari Graynor plays Leslie Abramson.
© Rodin EckenrothWhere are Lyle and Erik now?
In 1996, Lyle and Erik were sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of their mother and father. Their trials initially ended in a two-jury stalemate, leading to a second trial in which the jury was not allowed to vote on the manslaughter charge. They were both found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
They were initially sent to different prisons and separated from the other inmates until 2018. They were housed in the same correctional facility but in different departments. It was not until 2018 – 22 years after their conviction – that the two were reunited.
© Donaldson Collection
In the documentary “Menendez Brothers: Victims or Villains,” Lyle said of her conviction: “Looking back 34 years now, Erik, I and our family thought we were going into a manslaughter trial with a prosecutor who understood the traumatic effects of sexual violence on a person. And in the end, we got the same sentence as a serial killer.”
He added to Fox Nation: “Every day we see people being paroled,” Lyle tells Fox Nation. “And 34 years later, Erik and I are still waiting.”
Is there a link to “Monsters: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”?
The upcoming series is the next in the anthology true crime series that first focused on the heinous crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer. The series is one of Netflix’s most-watched series of all time and is the work of Glee creator Ryan Murphy, who returns for the sequel series along with his co-writer Ian Brennan.
