On Friday, the anthology series “Monster,” created by prominent producer Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, makes its return to Netflix with its second installment. Following its previous exploration of Jeffrey Dahmer, the new season shifts focus to Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers sentenced to life in prison for the murder of their parents, José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez. The brothers assert that their actions were an act of self-defense after enduring years of psychological, emotional, and sexual abuse inflicted by their father.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch take on the roles of Lyle and Erik, with Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem and Oscar-nominee Chloë Sevigny portraying their parents.
In selecting the Menendez case as the next topic, Murphy and Brennan were inspired by the overwhelming discussions about the case on TikTok, especially among younger audiences. Murphy noted the surge of interest from young people and highlighted how societal understanding of issues like sexual abuse and mental health has evolved since the 1990s.
The Menendez family’s public image was that of an ideal American family. After immigrating from Cuba, José met Kitty while studying at Southern Illinois University. The couple raised their sons, Lyle, born in 1968, and Erik in 1970, in a comfortable environment, moving from New Jersey to Beverly Hills as their socio-economic status improved. However, beneath this seemingly perfect life, serious issues loomed.
On August 20, 1989, Erik and Lyle, then aged 18 and 21, murdered their parents in their Beverly Hills mansion. Following their arrest in March 1990, two conflicting narratives emerged. The prosecution argued that the brothers killed their parents for their inheritance, pointing to their lavish spending after the murders. In contrast, their defense maintained that they had been victims of severe abuse, which drove them to commit the act.
Initially tried with separate juries, both trials resulted in deadlocks. They were later tried together in a case overseen by Judge Stanley Weisberg, who restricted evidence related to sexual abuse. In 1996, both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy. They are currently serving life sentences at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
Murphy remarked on the lack of media discourse surrounding male sexual abuse, suggesting that this series could ignite broader conversations on the subject. He emphasized the importance of accuracy in portraying the story, assuring that the events depicted are based on thorough research.
The series opens dramatically with Lyle and Erik in a limousine en route to a memorial for their parents. The premiere showcases Lyle’s interest in owning a buffalo wing restaurant, a passion that led him to acquire a restaurant post-murder.
In a standout moment, Lyle delivers a eulogy at the memorial service, which takes a strange turn when Milli Vanilli’s “Girl I’m Gona Miss You” plays. This peculiar detail was confirmed by journalist Robert Rand, underscoring the show’s commitment to depicting real-life events.