If you think you're an open minded person, I suggest that you watch both of these documenataries at the same time,
"the menendez murders: erik tells all" and "Lorena". Both deal with issues and trials that occurred about the same time but it's fascinating to watch how events turned out quite differently and the views of the protagonists and antagonists in both trials have strangely symmetrical views and yet are completely at odds in their opinions. I mean, Lorena is a woman who claims that she was physically, emotionally, and sexually abused over a long time until she had a momentary lapse of reason and fear and assaulted her husband. She was allowed at trial to raise 'abuse' as an issue in her defense and she was acquitted. "the menendez murders" is about two brothers that were physically, emotionally and sexually abused over a long time until they had a momentary lapse of reason and fear and killed their parents. In their first trial they were allowed to use 'abuse' in their defense and their trials ended up deadlocked and dismissed. But in their second trial, they were not allowed to use 'abuse' in their defense and they were both convicted. These are two completely different stories? No, they're not. If you lay out both documentaries side by side and listen to all the characters involved it's fascinating how similar the story is and how similar the protagonists and antagonists are in their opinions. It's fascinating how all the characters can be both wrong and right at the same time and how hypocritical and silly they can be too. Each documentary by itself is fairly average and one sided but both together and you've got gold. For instance, in 'lorena' you have a number of feminists arguing that women have been abused for a very long time and so it was only natural that something like this would happen as a way of justifying the crime. In the 'menendes brothers' you have mostly a number of characters claiming that no such abuse ever occurred despite over 50 witnesses who testified in the first case that it did. I don't care one way or the other if the facts as presented in the films are true or not. I couldn't possibly say what is the truth or not. But, it's fascinating to watch how all the characters (who again are living the same space and time period) justify their reasons for knowing what the truth is.
7 Reviews
If anyone deserved to be murdered...
DebraIonaVogel11 June 2020
....It was those two.
If we believe what Eric is telling us.
I remember the trial and now, after having seen this series, feel quite differently about what I think I saw.
This is really compelling, substantiated stuff. Many first hand recollections and interviews.
Should they have been convicted? Yes, I do think so. But, what made them do it? The devil is, indeed, in the details and his name was Jose Menendez.
Very enlightening, tough stuff. A must see.
If we believe what Eric is telling us.
I remember the trial and now, after having seen this series, feel quite differently about what I think I saw.
This is really compelling, substantiated stuff. Many first hand recollections and interviews.
Should they have been convicted? Yes, I do think so. But, what made them do it? The devil is, indeed, in the details and his name was Jose Menendez.
Very enlightening, tough stuff. A must see.
Well made and very revealing documentary
anniebhunter4 September 2019
Assuming
valstone5215 December 2019
No one knows what happened in the family. None of us were there, so of they try to make themselves look innocent. Also I thought that if you were convicted of a crime, you couldn't get monetary gain. All it boils down to, is two spoiled rich kids, who thought that they were entitled. Look how they went on their spending spree, after the murders. Anyone who b they are innocent, has a screw loose. And whoever they married has a problem also. Guess they think they'll get the money. Idiots and morons.
Rag Tag Gaggle of know nothings tell us what they know
dale-5164929 June 2021
This is one of the worse documentaries I have ever seen. Not because the production quality is poor, it's OK, but because it is so un objective and downright misleading . I shouldn't even call it a doc since "Erik tells all" tells u that u will hear what he wants you to. However, there is such a hysterical tone thru the whole thing that is shameless, really made for American audiences , and not the smart ones . For example , a "cousin", presented as Kitty's nephew, drops a hint that he has the inside story since he lived with them (allegedly).... but when he drops the bombshell it is :" The boys would go into the master bedroom and bath suite after tennis to change and shower and the father would close the door "... so, a family where the boys and father see each other change and shower are, what?, perverse and going to get their heads shot off? Granted, the mansion likely had multiple bedrooms and ensuite but, are we really that suspicious today?
It seems like they drug up a couple of jealous enimies of Jose, or some people who just wanted to be on television, and melded them into one of the boys crazy story about why killing their father was , ?in self defense? And Kitty was caught in the cross fire ? Puhleeeezeee.... It seems like there are a whole gang of people charged with murder who all of a sudden , for the first time, claim they were sexually molested as kids by their Dad, which they never told anyone about before AND which said Dad had no history of ... SURE ! These guys were guilty and this thing is insulting .
It seems like they drug up a couple of jealous enimies of Jose, or some people who just wanted to be on television, and melded them into one of the boys crazy story about why killing their father was , ?in self defense? And Kitty was caught in the cross fire ? Puhleeeezeee.... It seems like there are a whole gang of people charged with murder who all of a sudden , for the first time, claim they were sexually molested as kids by their Dad, which they never told anyone about before AND which said Dad had no history of ... SURE ! These guys were guilty and this thing is insulting .
Hit piece
paddyj-150083 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
You can tell the reactionary responses people had to this based off how they reviewed the reviews. Pretty one sided documentary that seems set up to present only the defense's story of events. Even OJ was brought up in this to help their argument for whatever reason. This doc is questionable at best and should be taken with a grain of salt. Expand your knowledge of the case with more info than making a judgment solely on this doc alone. Very one sided and suspect, there's no coincidence this was made in such an incendiary way and now people have petitioned the gov for pardons.
In short it's a calculated doc that's appeared to have been made to paint a one sided picture. I'd follow the money on this one because these guys come from money so it wouldn't be surprising if this was funded to paint them as innocent given heavy abuse.
In short it's a calculated doc that's appeared to have been made to paint a one sided picture. I'd follow the money on this one because these guys come from money so it wouldn't be surprising if this was funded to paint them as innocent given heavy abuse.
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