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Netflix’s series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has turned into quite the hot potato, sparking enough debate to fuel dinner table conversations for a lifetime. The Swallowed star Cooper Koch, 28, is donning Erik Menendez’s shoes and sure knows how to turn heads.

A still from Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story trailer | Credits: Netflix

But wait, does Menendez himself think Koch’s performance deserves a standing ovation? Well, sorry, but the former has recently thrown a wet blanket over the show, denouncing it as a “blatant pile of lies”. That being said, fans are weighing in, giving their verdict on how much of the series aligns with the reality of the Menendez trial.

For those who’ve been living under a rock, let’s rewind a bit. On August 20, 1989, the Menendez brothers, armed with 12-gauge shotguns, tragically ended the lives of their parents.

Fans Weigh...

The Menendez Brothers were not happy with how they were portrayed in Ryan Murphy‘s new dramatized version of their story in Monsters, but they now have a chance to tell their story in their own words.

The convicted killers are speaking out in a new Netflix documentary, which begins streaming on October 7.

The Menendez Brothers documentary features phone interviews with the brothers, which were recorded in 15-minute increments from prison phones at Donovan Correctional Facility in California.

Keep reading to find out more…

“Everyone asks why we killed our parents. Maybe now people can understand the truth,” Lyle says in the trailer.

Erik says, “What happened that night is very well known but so much hasn’t been told.”

Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch portray Lyle and Erik, respectively, in the new Netflix series Monsters. The show is streaming now.

Cooper Koch is gaining praise for his work as Erik Menendez in the new Netflix series Monsters, but he’s also faced some criticism for being part of the show.

Ryan Murphy‘s series has faced backlash for featuring “blatant lies” about the Menendez Brothers story and the real-life subjects have even slammed the show.

Cooper doesn’t have social media, but his brother Payton took to Instagram to defend his brother’s performance and explain how he took “immense” care in his work.

Keep reading to find out more…

“I won’t speak for Cooper but I will say that he cares immensely for the boys and stands with them and all victims of abuse,” Payton said (via People). “He did everything he could to ensure their stories of abuse were seen on screen and I think in episode 5, it is abundantly clear where he stands.”

Episode five was...

Though it may feel like a McU-level cameo of headline-grabbing names from the ’90s, one of the most surprising claims of “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is true. Erik Menendez did actually know O.J. Simpson, at least for a brief time.

Their meeting happened in June of 1994, shortly after Simpson was arrested following his infamous Bronco chase. By that point, both brothers had been imprisoned for over four years.

Here’s everything we know about this stranger-than-fiction meeting and how “Monsters” retelling of it compares to other times Simpson has appeared in Ryan Murphy’s work.

Did the Menendez brothers know O.J. Simpson?

Just like in the Netflix series, Erik Menendez really was cell neighbors with O.J. Simpson. In Robert Rand’s “The Menendez Murders,” Erik said that he didn’t see Simpson cry during his first night but that he could hear him “moaning.” The...

Content warning: This article discusses themes and subject matter that some readers may find triggering, including murder and sexual abuse.

Ryan Murphy's new Netflix true crime drama "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" has reignited the public's fixation with one of the most obsessed-about murder cases in American history. The killing of José and Kitty Menéndez by their sons in the summer of 1989 first entered the murder-to-entertainment pipeline when Lyle and Erik's trial was broadcast on Court TV in 1993. The story was the perfect true crime cocktail: it had an outwardly perfect family, conflicting testimony, sexual violence, gory killings, and — in case audiences got bored of all that — some messy B-plot side drama among the supporting characters.

The tip-off that got the Menéndez brothers arrested came from an unlikely source: their psychologist's mistress, Judalon Smyth (played by Leslie Grossman in "Monsters"). Smyth told the cops about the existence...

This article contains discussions of sexual assault.

Ryan Murphy's latest entry in his "Monsters" anthology series, "The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" -- a series which began in 2022 with Evan Peters as infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer -- focuses on Erik and Lyle Menendez (Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez), two brothers accused and subsequently convicted of killing their parents José and Kitty Menendez (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny) in the late 1980s. Unsurprisingly, it's already courting controversy the way Murphy portrays the siblings and their family dynamic.

This happened with the "Monster" season focusing on Dahmer as well, with relatives of the real-life killer's victims saying the series "retraumatized" them and more or less glamorized Dahmer himself, so it's not entirely surprising that Murphy's often sensational approach to real stories is making waves again. Adapting a true crime story is absolutely a tricky thing to do, but still,...

Nicholas Alexander Chavez is having a breakthrough moment with major roles across two of Ryan Murphy’s latest projects: the Netflix miniseries “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and FX’s upcoming Catholic horror fable “Grotesquerie.” In a Monday press conference promoting the latter series, Chavez dug into how the two productions necessitated different approaches, considering one is based on real events and the other is a fictional story.

“Ryan is a world builder. It was interesting, because I got to work with him on two very, very different worlds. The Menendez project had a context already set for it, where we’re telling the story that’s based on true events that happened in 1989 and the early ’90s,” Chavez said. “Whereas, this project was an entirely new world, where the only limitations were our creativity and imagination. It was interesting to just be thrown into the depths of...

The infamous Menndez brothers, Erik and Lyle, have been thrust back into the headlines recently with the latest season of Ryan Murphy's Monsters anthology. Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story is a dramatic interpretation of the murders of Jose and Kitty Menndez and the subsequent trial and conviction of their sons, Erik and Lyle, for the brutal killings. One of the largest points of conversation since the release of the series has been Erik's condemnation of Netflix & Ryan Murphy over alleged "blatant lies."

However, in a surprising turn of events, any bad blood present couldn't have been too detrimental following the latest Menndez brothers news. After Kim Kardashian reportedly visited the Menendez brothers yesterday, today the official trailer was released for a new Netflix documentary featuring the brothers, discussing their story, three decades later, in their own words. According to the streamer via The Hollywood Reporter, the new...

Ever since he debuted his "American Crime Story" in 2016 with the critically acclaimed miniseries "The People v. O.J. Simpson," Ryan Murphy has become television/streaming's preeminent purveyor of lurid, fact-based sagas. Murphy and his collaborators are masters of titillation and/or revulsion, but they've yet to come close to matching the whip-smart dialogue and nimble storytelling of "The People v. O.J. Simpson" writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. "The Assassination of Gianni Versace" and "Impeachment" were more facile and, in alarming respects, callous to the point of mean-spiritedness.

This quality was hugely amplified when Murphy took his true crime game to Netflix for "Dahmer: Monster -- The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." The 2022 10-part series was long on unpleasantness, gore, and outright cruelty, but disappointingly short on insight. It was a wallow. And I say this as someone fascinated by serial killers. As such, it'll be interesting to see if...

There are lots of reasons to be upset with some of the films and TV shows on Netflix. The service has a proclivity for pumping out forgettable streaming fare with alarming regularity, even while it also produces killer action thrillers like "Rebel Ridge." But more concerning than bland streaming "content" is the way in which other people's misery has produced some of the biggest hits in the streamer's history. This is especially true when it comes to true crime documentaries, but it was also the case with season one of Ryan Murphy's "Monster," which dramatized the real-life abominations carried out by notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.

Now, Murphy has taken over Netflix's top charts again with a new season of his true crime anthology series. This time, however, Murphy's bringing you the story of a murderous duo with "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story." The new season tells...

Ryan Murphy's new controversial TV show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, has reignited interest in the true crime case following the brother's shocking murder trial from the early '90s. In the light of the release of the new season of the Monster anthology series, which follows the popular yet controversial Dahmer season, the subjects of the series are now speaking out.

Lyle and Erik Menendez were born to a wealthy family in Beverly Hills, and the two seemed to have it all. However, the brothers shockingly murdered their parents in 1989, and the new season of Murphy's anthology has convinced the brothers to tell their side of the story. The duo will release a documentary with interviews from prison called The Menendez Brothers, which is set to premiere on Oct. 7.

30 years after the murders, Lyle and Erik Menendez tell their story.The Menendez Brothers premieres October 7. pic.

This article contains mentions of murder.

Spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story are ahead!

Netflixs Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story introduces an unexpected character the infamous O.J. Simpson raising the question of whether Lyle and Erik Menendez had an actual connection with the notorious former athlete. Ryan Murphys true crime TV show gained attention, both positive and negative, for its depiction of the Jeffrey Dahmer case, and the show surprisingly gained a second season focusing on the true story of Lyle and Erik Menendez.

No matter an individuals perception of the portrayal of the story, the Monsters season 2 cast gave strong performances, including one surprising addition to the show Trae Island as Oj Simpson. This fictionalized version never appears onscreen, but his voice can be heard. Simpsons trial also affects the Menendez brothers case in the final episode of Monsters season 2. Given Monsters: The Lyle...

Erik and Lyle Menéndez phone in from Donovan Correctional Facility in the official trailer for Netflix’s The Menéndez Brothers. Streaming Oct. 7, the documentary features new interviews with the brothers as they reflect on the murder of their parents nearly three decades ago and the sensationalized trial that followed.

“Everyone asks why we killed our parents,” Erik says in the trailer. “Maybe now people can understand the truth.” The documentary from director Alejandro Hartmann puts first-hand accounts from the Menéndez brothers in conversation with commentary from prosecutor Pamela Bozanich, their cousin Diane Vander Molen,...

Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's "Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" enjoyed record-breaking success on Netflix in 2022, which led to two additional installments of the "Monster" anthology being greenlit. The second installment, "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," is garnering a ton of attention at the moment, continuing the tradition of real-life horrors being re-enacted by a stacked ensemble cast. The unsavory aspects of such a trend are pretty hard to ignore, but it has been proven time and again that audiences gravitate toward these kinds of stories, even when they are actualized at the cost of those who suffered. "The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" happens to offer an appropriate amount of suspense and tension, as there are no questions about the validity of the accusations, but rather the how and why behind the crimes that were committed.

For brief context, the Menendez siblings brutally killed...

The Menendez brothers are now getting the documentary treatment on Netflix, with the news coming as their story is currently streaming in scripted form on the streamer.

On Monday, Netflix announced a new documentary titled The Menendez Brothers will hit the streamer on Oct. 7. The project, directed by Argentinian director Alejandro Hartmann (Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta?, The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar) will “offer new insight and a fresh perspective on a case that people only think they know,” per Netflix.

Here is the description: “In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. For the first time in 30 years, and in their own words, both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation. Through extensive audio interviews with Lyle and Erik, lawyers involved in the trial, journalists who covered it,...

Thirty years later, convicted murderers Lyle and Erik Menendez are shedding more light on what really happened leading up to that fateful night in 1989.

In The Menendez Brothers, an upcoming documentary set for release on Netflix Monday, Oct. 7, the infamous brothers (who are serving life in prison for murdering their parents) are speaking out about the shocking crime and the trials that followed. Interviews with the two men were given via phone from Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego County, Calif, where they claim that “so much hasn’t been told.”

More from TVLineVince McMahon Accuses Netflix Documentary of Using...

Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story has taken over Netflix as the current most-watched series on the streamer. The series documents the true murder of Jose and Kitty Menndez and the subsequent trial and conviction of their sons, Erik and Lyle. Recent headlines read Netflix and Ryan Murphy slammed by Erik Menndez over "blatant" lies and other inaccuracies in the new series. However, after publicly bashing the series through his wife, Erik Menndez was forced to come face to face with the man who portrayed him.

According to TMZ, reality star and prison reform activist, Kim Kardashian visited the prison housing the Menndez brothers, but she was not alone. Kardashian, joined by Cooper Koch, the actor behind Monsters' portrayal, spoke to several dozen inmates, including the infamous siblings. Other visitors included Kardashian's mother, Kris Jenner, and sister Khlo Kardashian. Despite any potential awkwardness between Koch and Menndez, the primary focus of the visit was Greenspace,...

Erik and Lyle Menendez speak out for the first time in decades in the official trailer for “The Menendez Brothers,” a new documentary feature streaming on Netflix in October. The brothers were convicted of murdering their parents, Jose and Kitty, in 1996 in a trial that captivated the nation and which is currently the subject of Netflix’s narrative series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

“Everyone asks why we killed our parents,” Lyle says in an audio interview from prison. “Maybe now people can understand the truth.”

“What happened that night is very well known but so much hasn’t been told,” adds Erik. “We were not the ones who told the story about our lives. Two kids don’t commit this crime for money.”

The official synopsis for “The Menendez Brothers” documentary from Netflix reads: “In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents...

There's a new Ryan Murphy true crime series on Netflix, and in a "water is wet"-style situation, it's generating controversy. "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story," which is climbing the Netflix charts, is the latest installment in Murphy's "Monster" anthology, which started with the extremely awkwardly titled "Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." That series, which depicted the crimes of cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, garnered some side-eye reactions and plenty of controversy, primarily from the families of Dahmer's victims, who felt the series was exploiting their tragedy.

"The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story" seems to be having a similar effect. In true Ryan Murphy fashion, the show frequently goes over-the-top to depict its true story, and some folks are taking issue, including members of the Menendez family. If you grew up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as I did, you're likely somewhat familiar with the story,...

Kim Kardashian has been very open about her passion for prison reform lately. Now, she’s not only talking to the Menendez brothers, but she also brought along the actor who plays one of the brothers on the Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Keep reading to find out more on what happened.

Kim Kardashian talks to the Menendez brothers

Erik and Lyle Menendez are brothers who fatally shot and killed their parents in 1989. At the time, they were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The brothers insist that their crimes were committed out of fear from a lifetime of abuse. However, they have still been serving life in prison without the chance for parole.

Now, they got a visit from The Kardashians star, Kim Kardashian.

Kim Kardashian | Youtube

Kim frequently visits prisons to speak to prisoners and try to help with prison reform.

As the King of the Monsters, Godzilla has proven himself to be extremely powerful, but there have been times when the kaiju has been defeated by humans in the Godzilla movies. Godzilla originally debuted in the 1954 Japanese movie, Godzilla, and has since become a steadfast figure in pop culture, with countless references in international media. The kaiju has appeared in an impressive 38 movies, with each Godzilla movie presenting a different version of the monster throughout its many eras, and the monster has battled multiple foes over the years.

From Ghidorah to Mechagodzilla, Godzilla has won many fights in his movies and has an impressive 42 wins against other kaiju throughout his movies. However, Godzilla has also fought with humans in a number of films, often attacking Japans cities and leaving them devastated. While most would expect the giant monster to prevail every time against such a small enemy, surprisingly, humans have...

This article contains discussions of murder and sexual abuse surrounding the real life and crimes of Erik and Lyle Menendez.

Ryan Murphy is back in the true crime sphere with Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, and yet, he hasn't learned any lessons from the missteps of the past. The show is the second installment in Murphy and Ian Brennan's new anthology franchise following 2022's Dahmer. However, unlike the former's American Crime Story, which has seen anywhere from generally positive reviews to critical acclaim, Monster started off on rocky ground with a polarized response to Dahmer, and The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is even more problematic.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

Cast Nathen Gurrola, Blanca Araceli, Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Charlie Hall, Marlene Forte, Dallas Roberts, leslie grossman, Nathan Lane, Javier Bardem, Chloe Sevigny, Ari GraynorCharacter(s) Andy Cano, Craig Cignarelli, Judalon Smyth, Dr.

Ryan Murphy’s latest installment in the “Monster” anthology series has been called “exploitative” by some fans, criticizing the portrayal of the sexual abuse experienced by the Menendez brothers.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” follows the murder case that captivated America’s attention in the 90s. While the two brothers are still serving time behind bars, recent discoveries about their music executive father’s inappropriate behavior have led to a more nuanced inspection of their claims of sexual abuse.

While showrunners Murphy and Ian Brennan’s portrayal of the brothers dips a toe into incest territory, the following documentaries provide a glimpse into the real events that inspired the campy, Murphy reimagining.

Here are the seven documentaries you should watch after finishing “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

A Tubi original documentary “Surburban Nightmare: The Menendez Brothers” (Credit: Fox Entertainment) Suburban Nightmare: The Menendez Brothers

The second...

I read somewhere that if you want to hide the truth in plain sight, you should make a movie about it. I don’t remember who exactly said that, but after watching the Monsters series, I am quite certain that the saying is meant for “artists” like Ryan Murphy. Before the second season was released on Netflix, I watched a plethora of documentaries and court trial videos and read a few books about the Menendez murders, and to be honest, I had mixed feelings about the entire case. I wasn’t sure whether the brothers were lying or not. I hoped that maybe Ryan Murphy’s Netflix series would help me get some answers to the questions that the bizarre case had raised, but it only left me more confused. It seemed like the makers put all the real-life events, rumors, hearsay, and gossip in a blender and made a...

The Netflix drama Monsters takes us back to that notorious 1980s murder case involving brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez. We all likely recall the shocking tabloid headlines at the time: two wealthy sons accused of gunning down their wealthy parents in cold blood inside their lavish Beverly Hills home.

Now showbiz maestro Ryan Murphy brings this saga to screens with his signature stylish yet unsettling flair, no doubt hoping we’ll chew on its moral quandaries long after credits roll.

Through nine lengthy episodes, Murphy unpacks the Menendez family history and what may have truly driven these brothers to such a violent act. We relive their privileged yet troubled upbringing, with Javier Bardem unnervingly perfect as the tyrannical father figure.

We watch as young Erik and Lyle fall deeper into darkness, their simmering resentment eventually boiling over on that fateful night. But don’t expect a straightforward whodunnit—Murphy wants...

Warning: This post contains Spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story!

This article contains discussions of murder and sexual abuse surrounding the real life and crimes of Erik and Lyle Menendez.

With the duo's story getting fresh life on the Netflix show, attorney Mark Geragos weighs in on the Menendez brothers' chances of a prison release after Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The second installment in Ryan Murphy's Monster anthology follows the titular brothers from murdering their parents in 1989 through their court trial, in which they cited sexual and emotional abuse from their parents as the reason behind the murders. Monsters season 2 ends with the duo receiving life sentences without the possibility of parole in 1996, where they still are 28 years later.

On the heels of the show's premiere, People spoke with the brothers' post-conviction attorney Mark Geragos to discuss how Monsters: The Lyle and Erik...

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story actor Cooper Koch is a relatively private person and doesn’t have a public Instagram account, so there isn’t much known about his personal life.

If you’re trying to find out if Cooper is single or dating anyone, you probably won’t find anything online!

While we don’t know too much about Cooper‘s life yet, he has previously opened up about being an openly gay actor in Hollywood and how that has affected his career so far.

Keep reading to find out more…

Cooper starred in Peacock’s horror film They/Them, which featured a mostly LGBTQ+ cast, and he was asked about being an out gay actor while promoting the movie.

“I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to be cast in it. To have actual trans, nonbinary, and queer people playing all of the roles is how it should be.

Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story closely follows many events surrounding the Menendez brothers' crimes but ends up missing a few crucial details. Serving as a follow-up to Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story adopts a storytelling style where it tries to draw no judgments about the killers' actions it follows. Instead of portraying them as the titular "monsters," it seems more interested in drawing a clearer picture of what led to Lyle and Erik Menendez committing the murder of their parents.

Unfortunately, even though the show tries to adopt a neutral perspective, Erik Menendez has slammed Monsters season 2 for its take on his story. A day after Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story's release, he called the series "dishonest" and even used the words "naive and inaccurate" to describe Ryan Murphy. Whether Erik Menendez is entirely right...

Kim Kardashian visited the Richard J. Donovan Correctional facility near San Diego on Saturday to speak about prison reform with a large group of inmates, including brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez.

Kardashian was joined by sister Khloe Kardashian, mother Kris Jenner, film producer Scott Budnick and actor Cooper Koch, who plays Erik in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix biopic series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”

The Menendez brothers, who fatally shot their parents Kitty and Jose Menendez in 1989, were convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. They were sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.

On Friday, Erik slammed “Monsters,” saying that the Netflix anthology series’ second installment perpetuated “ruinous character portrayals” of him and his brother Lyle.

“It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent,...

Cooper Koch surprisingly went to meet with Erik Menendez after the convicted killer blasted his new series Monsters.

The 28-year-old actor plays Erik in the new Netflix limited series, created by Ryan Murphy.

TMZ is reporting that Cooper joined Kim Kardashian while visiting Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego on Saturday (September 21). The stars met with a group of around 40 inmates to talk about prison reform. Erik and Lyle were reportedly both there.

Make sure to read Erik‘s comments about the new Monsters series, which he called “dishonest.”

So, what’s the connection between them?

Keep reading to find out more…

Kim was likely connected with Cooper through Ryan Murphy as they have both worked with the TV producer. As you likely already know, Kim starred in the latest season of American Horror Story and she’s also leading a new star-studded legal drama for Ryan.

Joining...

Nicholas Alexander Chavez might be a name you don’t know yet, but the actor is about to become a big star thanks to his role as Lyle in the Netflix series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The 25-year-old actor is best known for his work on the ABC soap opera series General Hospital, on which he played the role of Spencer Cassadine for three years. He won a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on that show!

Fans of Monsters might be wondering if Nicholas is single or dating someone in real life.

Let’s fill you in on his girlfriend, Victoria Abbott!

Keep reading to find out more…

It’s unclear when Nicholas and Victoria started dating, but they went Instagram official in a post on her page on March 14, 2024.

Nicholas shared the first teaser trailer for Monsters back on January 18, 2024 and Victoria left a comment on that post.

Dahmer - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was a huge commercial success on Netflix, becoming the third most popular TV title of all time in the English language. This turned the series Monsters into an anthology, with the Lyle and Erik Menendez brothers taking the spotlight in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

The series was released on Netflix on Sept. 19, and controversies didn't fail to arrive. Tammi Menndez, Erik Menndez's wife, shared a statement from her husband on her X account, where he shares his thoughts on the new true crime series, captioning it, "Erik's response to the Netflix's series." Instead of praising creator Ryan Murphy for his new project, Erik Menendez had nothing but criticism over how Murphy handled his and his brother Lyle's story, calling him out directly for ruining their attempts to clear their image in the past two decades.

Related Ryan Murphy's New Medical...

The article contains discussions about sexual abuse.

Monster season 2 gets a mixed response, even compared to Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Consisting of nine episodes, the follow-up to Dahmer focuses on Lyle and Erik Menendez, two brothers who murdered their parents in 1989. Although prosecutors put forth different motivations for the crime, including a possible inheritance, the siblings say that they were physically and sexually abused by their father while their mother encouraged this behavior. The Monsters season 2 cast includes Cooper Koch, Nicholas Chavez, Javier Bardem, and Chlo Sevigny

Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story has debuted with a mixed response on Rotten Tomatoes. The second installment of the Netflix true crime drama currently holds a 63% critics score based on 8 reviews, but the more detailed average reveals a less than stellar 5.70/10 rating. In terms of the audience score, Monsters comes in at 54% based on more than 100 ratings. Both scores are subject...

The second season of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s Netflix anthology, Monsters focuses on the infamous Menendez brothers, who’re still serving time for killing their parents. The season also happens to be a goldmine for movie nerds and pop culture aficionados. There’s loads of references over the course of nine episodes, and we’re going to look into them in this article, one by one.

Batman

Right after shooting their parents to death, Lyle and Erik Menendez go to a Los Angeles cinema hall and try to buy tickets to Batman. The Batman movie in question is obviously the one made by Tim Burton, starring Michael Keaton as the caped crusader. The brothers’ plan is to make a solid alibi in order to avoid any sort of trouble. The woman at the counter, however, refuses to sell them tickets as they’re way too late, and it...

When it comes to the Menendez case, it’s difficult to tell exactly where the truth lies. That doubly so when it comes to Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth, two secondary figures who became central to the case, largely due to their complicated romantic relationship.

That’s also the case when it comes to Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Hernandez Story,” Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s drama about the trial. Played by Dallas Roberts and Leslie Grossman in the series, here’s the truth behind the couple that was ultimately responsible for the arrest of the Menendez brothers.

How are Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth connected to the Menendez case?

Though police suspected the brothers were responsible for the murders of José and Kitty Menendez, Smyth was the one who told the police she overheard their confession. That’s what ultimately allowed them to make an arrest.

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is asking viewers to be the jury for the Menéndez brothers. The infamous Beverly Hills siblings murdered their parents in 1989, and were convicted in 1996, but today’s more comprehensive understanding of sexual abuse has sparked renewed interest in the case.

“[The show’s] about the consequences of trauma,” Javier Bardem, who plays the father, José, told Variety at the series Los Angeles premiere on Monday. “Unless [it is] properly addressed and healed, it’s going to have a huge, horrible, dramatic effect on generations to come.”

The cast and creatives of the series described its “Rashaman” approach to the story.

“We wanted to really present a lot of different points of view, and then let the audience sort of decide what to take,” writer and producer David McMillan said. “We are talking about real people … many of them are still alive. We want to make sure that our...

Season two of Monsters debuted on Netflix this week to rave reviews. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the tale of two rich kids in California who killed their parents in the late 1980s. Both brothers are serving out life sentences. The case continues to intrigue the nation amid claims of new evidence that could exonerate the brothers. Convicted killer Erik Menendez blasted the show and its creator, Ryan Murphy. Keep reading to see why.

New Evidence To Be Presented In Court

Erik and Lyle Menendez shot their parents, Kitty and Jose, to death in the summer of 1989. That’s an undisputed fact, even though police initially thought it was a mob hit. That’s how gruesome the crime scene was. But the question remains to this day of why the brothers killed their parents. Media reports at the time speculated that Jose threatened to write his sons...

The intriguing story of Erik Menendez and his brother Lyle, who are convicted for the brutal murder of their parents, can compete with any crime drama series. But it is the 53-year-old’s romantic life and marriage that has been ringing in people’s ears, with the theme song of “Mama I’m in love with a criminal”.

Erik Menendez and brother Lyle | image: Celano via Reuters (CNN)

According to reports from several outlets, as well as a self-published memoir, They Said We’d Never Make It: My Life with Erik Menendez, it is Tammi Ruth Saccoman who captured public fascination for her romantic association with Erik Menendez. Despite being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, what could have brought the two close? Well, their unexpected love story is one steeped in tragedy, trauma, and healing.

The Unconventional Bond of Erik Menendez and Tammi Ruth Saccoman...

Plot: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the case of the real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed – and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole – that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse

Review: The ever-expanding anthology series credited to super-producer Ryan Murphy continues to expand. Earlier this week, we shared our review for the newest American Story series, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. While that series did not have Murphy directly involved as a writer or director, he does boast direct credits alongside longtime collaborator Ian Brennan on the second entry of Monster; this time focused on the tantalizing crimes of Lyle and Erik Menendez. One of several...

They say ‘truth is stranger than fiction’, and when it comes to the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez, does that adage hit the nail on the head? These two brothers, armed with 12-gauge shotguns, stormed into their Beverly Hills abode on August 20, 1989, and did the unthinkable—they fatally shot their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, while the couple was engrossed in their TV time.

A still from Monsters season 2 trailer | Credit: Netflix

Now, decades later, this real-life drama has been resurrected for Season 2 of Ryan Murphy’s Netflix show, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, starring none other than Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny.

The brothers’ case, which captured national headlines, is once again front and center. But here’s the million-dollar question: Is the renewed focus on the Menendez brothers just another Hollywood cash cow, or could it actually serve a greater purpose? At the heart of the matter,...

As audiences already find themselves divided on the new season, Erik Menendez has some sharp critiques for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. The show marks the second season of Ryan Murphy's Monster anthology on Netflix, chronicling the infamous story of the titular brothers as they murdered their parents in 1989 and eventually went on trial in 1996, where they received life sentences without the possibility of parole. Led by Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Cooper Koch, Javier Bardem and Chlo Sevigny, Monsters season 2 has proven just as controversial as its predecessor, namely for its depiction of the brothers.

On the heels of its premiere, Erik Menendez (via Deadline) wrote on his Facebook page a lengthy post criticizing Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story. Menendez began his post expressing disappointment with how the show portrayed him and his brother, feeling it to be "dishonest" and that the media had "moved beyond...

One of the real-life killers behind Netflix’s Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is taking issue with the show’s portrayal of them.

Erik Menendez, who was convicted along with his brother Lyle of killing their parents in a sensational trial that sparked a media frenzy in the ’90s, issued a blistering statement condemning the inaccuracies found in the Ryan Murphy-produced docudrama on Friday, via his brother Lyle’s Facebook page. (The Facebook page is run by Lyle’s family; both brothers are currently serving life in prison without parole. TVLine has reached out to the administrator...

The reviews are in for Ryan Murphy‘s latest true crime outing, and one critic is certainly not pleased.

After Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story debuted Thursday on Netflix, Erik Menéndez called out the series’ “naive and inaccurate” depiction of his and brother Lyle’s 1989 murder of their parents José and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menéndez.

“I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant likes rampant in the show,” said Erik in a statement shared on Lyle’s Facebook page. “I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.

“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s...

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story tells the sequence of events leading up to Jos and Kitty Menendez's deaths and the fallout afterward, which involved charging and convicting Lyle and Erik Menendez for their parents' murders. Monster season 2 follows the Menendez brothers' story after the success of the show's first season, Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez surprised their parents with shotguns and killed them. Although the police did not initially suspect Lyle and Erik Menendez, their psychologist's mistress turned in the tapes of Lyle and Erik confessing to killing their parents.

Lyle and Erik Menendez's first trial in 1993 ended with a deadlocked jury and mistrial, but their second trial ended with convictions. The judge then sentenced Lyle and Erik Menendez to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has a remarkable cast of characters...

“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” is now on Netflix, bringing renewed interest to the case of the two brothers who murdered their parents. But as with any true crime series, there’s interest in knowing what the real people involved are up to now.

Erik and Lyle Menendez have been in prison since their 1996 conviction in the murder of their parents. As a note at the end of a series tells us, “Lyle and Erik Menendez maintain the allegation of sexual abuse at the hands of their mother and father. They continue to serve life sentences without the possibility of parole.”

Here’s where everyone stands.

Erik Menendez mugshots from 2000 and 2002 (Credit: Bureau of Prisons/Getty Images) Erik Menendez

Erik, the younger brother, is now 53. He has been incarcerated at a San Diego prison since his conviction and was only reunited with his brother Lyle in 2018 after he...

Quick Links Monsters Season 2's Final Scene: What The Ending With Erik & Lyle On The Boat Means The Verdict Of the Erik & Lyle Menendez Case In Monsters' Ending Explained What Happened To Eric & Lyle Menendez & Where They Are Today Monsters Season 2 True Story: How Accurate Is The Ending To Lyle & Erik's Real-Life? Did Oj Simpson Really Befriend The Menendez Brothers In Jail? Who The Real Monsters Are In The Netflix True-Crime Series Will There Be A Monster Season 3?

Warning! This post contains major spoilers for Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story.

The following discusses murder and sexual abuse surrounding the real-life crime of Lyle & Erik Menendez.

After unfolding through multiple perspectives and walking through every important event that happened before Kitty and Jose's murders, Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story ends by inviting viewers to form their own judgments. Serving as the follow-up to Netflix's Dahmer Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,...

“Monsters” Episode 5, “The Hurt Man,” is dedicated solely to Erik Menendez’s point of view. Sitting in a prison meeting room, talking to his attorney Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor), Erik (Cooper Koch) recounts “all of that” — everything in his life that led he and his brother, Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez), to murder their parents, José (Javier Bardem) and Kitty Menendez (Chloë Sevigny). And he does. Erik remembers the four different ways his father raped him as an 8 year old. He remembers the childlike names he gave each version — simple, evocative labels like “knees” and “mouth massage.” He remembers the “real torture” of his years spent being sexually, physically, and emotionally abused by his dad: “to still love him.” He remembers how their mother allowed it to happen, even sensing she was jealous of her husband’s obscene relationship with their son. Near the end, Erik remembers when he realized what...

“Monsters: “The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” viewers are bashing creator Ryan Murphy for portraying the brothers’ relationship as incestuous.

“The Menendez brothers were victims of sexual abuse who finally retaliated against their abusers and this disgusting piece of trash has turned their story into an incestuous fanfic,” one X user said in a post that included a snippet from the series that shows the brothers kissing on the mouth. “Hell is not hot enough for Ryan Murphy.”

The fact people can’t understand that Ryan Murphy isn’t romanticizing the brothers as lovers or having an incestuous relationship … and that instead he’s showing how sexual abuse altered them psychologically when it came to love & sex. #MonstersNetflix

pic.twitter.com/2FCY2qPyif

— Banjee Barbie (@BoujeeNBanjee) September 20, 2024

The second installment of Murphy’s “Monsters” series — this one centered on the 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menéndez committed by their sons

— dropped on Thursday,...

Years after winning the Academy Award for his most iconic role in No Country for Old Men, Javier Bardem got the perfect opportunity to channel his “Anton Chigurh” in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s second iteration of the Monster anthology on Netflix. As the menacing Jose Menendez, who ultimately gets shot to death by his own sons, Lyle and Erik, Bardem is absolutely terrifying. The show, titled The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, focuses on the infamous murders of businessman Jose Menendez and his wife Kitty Menendez, and their subsequent trial. Unlike the first season, where you feel absolutely no sympathy for the monster, the notorious Jeffrey Dahmer (at least I hope so), this season sort of leaves you conflicted. There shouldn’t be any doubt that the Menendez brothers did murder their parents, but the motive behind the murders is where it all gets tricky. The brothers say...

We’ve got questions, and you’ve (maybe) got answers! With another week of TV gone by, we’re lobbing queries left and right about The Bear, The Golden Bachelorette, Agatha All Along and The Penguin!

1 | Did the Three Women premiere put you off oysters for the foreseeable future?

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2 | Power Book II: Ghost viewers: Are you shocked that not...