BY: HANNAH WEST, STAFF WRITER
Photo from Wikimedia Commons
A 1994 murder case has been reopened 30 years later because of a Netflix original series. This series, however, is persuading the public eye almost too much.
After being convicted of brutally killing their parents in their living room, Lyle and Erik Menendez were handed a life sentence in prison. At the time, this case was very famous — the trial in 1996 was even broadcasted on court TV. A seemingly perfect, wealthy family was cut in half at the hands of the children.
However, as depicted in the Netflix series, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” there is much more to the story. The boys testified that they suffered years of emotional, physical and especially sexual abuse. The boys found themselves in danger and testified that their actions were self-defense.
At the time, sexual abuse of boys and men was not taken seriously. The brothers felt the effects of this and were charged with first-degree murder instead of manslaughter. With such a messy case, the Netflix series tried to balance entertainment value and accurate information. There were, however, some issues with the series.
The series did a disservice to the brothers’ relationship. They were close — they had to be to survive in their toxic household. However, the series depicts the brothers having an incestual relationship. This was inaccurate and gave a negative perception of Lyle and Erik to the public. Their relationship was not romantic, it was trauma-bonded.
Lyle and Erik were also portrayed as ill-tempered and aggressive towards their parents and the adults who were there for them during their trial. They had little remorse for their actions. According to another documentary released by Netflix, which featured the authentic voices of the brothers and the real people involved with the trial, the siblings were down to earth.
Erik explains in this documentary how he felt immediate remorse for his actions. The brothers spoke each word with anguish and guilt. In “Monsters,” they only cared about being released from prison.
It’s true: Netflix’s “Monsters” brought a lot of much-needed attention, not only to this case in particular but also to the under-talked-about subject of sexual abuse of boys and men. The jury was unable to take the abuse allegations seriously because of Lyle and Erik Menendez’s gender. It’s awful to say, but they would most likely walk free today if they were two women. However, much of this attention comes from the show’s entertainment value. The exaggerated depictions of Lyle and Erik Menendez can put a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who views the show, but it’s interesting to watch.
I would caution those interested in the case – which is being reopened on Nov. 29 of this year — to proceed with caution when viewing “Monsters.” Read the sources, examine the evidence or even watch Netflix’s documentary “The Menendez Brothers.” The popularity of “Monsters” is a sticky situation — every scene should be taken with a grain of salt.
westhe24@bonaventure.edu
