If, like me, you are fascinated with the inherently dark and twisted, this is the next crime documentary for you. For those who are unaware of this case, in 1989, Lyle (21) and Erik Menendez (18) killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their multi-million–dollar Beverly Hills Mansion. The documentary begins with Lyle’s 911 call to the police and ends with the pair in prison after being found guilty.
The documentary works chronologically through the case and unveils the emerging evidence as it was found out. I found this incredibly gripping as I know a lot of people are aware of what occurred, but not in what order, and certainly not how long secrets of the family were kept even after the deaths of Jose and Kitty. The documentary is told using photographic evidence and footage from the criminal trials.
It is also interspersed with accounts from the prosecuting lawyer and commentary from the brothers themselves. Through the chronology you can see how long the initial trial lasted after a month of deliberation, leading to two deadlocked juries and a mistrial. The prolonged deliberations were down to the complexity and sensitivity of this fascinating case.
Initially, the brothers were under fire from the media as everyone believed the pair were spoiled rich kids after their parents’ money. When Jose Menendez’s character is called into question, the boys reveal the dark secrets of their childhood—secrets of sexual, physical, and life-threatening abuse, all of which their mother Kitty was aware of. The Menendez brothers, after sharing their stories, had to make the jury believe that their lives were at risk on the night they killed their parents.
The jury had to decide whether years of sexual abuse and physical threats resulted in the belief their lives were in danger or that they killed their parents with planned and conscious intent. In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez, after their second trial, were found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive life prison terms without parole. The documentary ends with the two speaking from prison about their new artistic outlets and trying to find peace in their irreversible state.
One thing I found really interesting was how the documentary commented on the TikTok wave that was partly responsible for the production of the series. The social media surge is mostly in support of the brothers and specifically them as survivors of sexual abuse. It is interesting to see this perspective from a generation who were not alive to see the initial trials.
Social media, though potentially damaging with misinformation, can open up new discussions about old cases. In light of this specific wave and emergence of new evidence, the Los Angeles District Attorney and his office have begun talks about whether this case warrants resentencing or a retrial. The popularity of this case also led to a drama series called Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story released just before the documentary.
I would recommend watching the documentary first and seeing the evidence from the defence and prosecution before seeing the dramatisation. This documentary was fascinating and I would especially recommend this series to those who already know about the case, as there are distressing moments throughout, especially in regards to sexual violence.