Ryan Murphy’s latest instalment in his Monster anthology series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, dives deep into the chilling 1989 murders of José and Kitty Menendez.

Following the success of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, Murphy’s gaze now shifts to the infamous Menendez brothers, bringing the details of their shocking crime back into the spotlight.

The series, which was released on Sept. 19, stars Javier Bardem as José Menendez, Chloë Sevigny as Kitty Menendez, and Nicholas Chavez and Cooper Koch as Lyle and Erik Menendez, respectively. The series recounts the lead-up to the double homicide and the turbulent legal battles that followed.

For those familiar with the true crime frenzy of the 1990s, the Menendez case is a hallmark. In their Beverly Hills mansion, Lyle and Erik shot their parents at close range, leaving investigators stunned — not just by how brutal the crime was, but by the fact that children were the killers. The brothers later claimed years of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of their father and claimed that was the reason for the crime.

While the brothers’ allegations of abuse became a central part of their defense, the court proceedings were far from straightforward. The first trial in 1993 ended in a hung jury, and it was not until the second trial that both brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

What makes Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story unique is its focus on the aftermath of the crime. The series explores the brothers’ lives in the weeks after the murders, depicting them as young men who sometimes appear unaffected by their actions.

Their extravagant spending sprees and questionable behaviour stirred up public outrage, making the brothers even more suspicious.

Chavez, in his portrayal of Lyle, highlights the character’s cold, calculated demeanour, walking the fine line between ambition and hate. Meanwhile, Koch gives Erik a softer, empathetic side and plays on the idea that his older brother had a great influence over him.

While the show vividly shows the brothers’ post-crime behaviour and actions, it leaves the audience with more questions than answers. In fact, the audience is pulled into the complicated relationship between the brothers, left wondering who is more to blame.

The series encourages viewers to think about whether the brothers’ claims of abuse justify their actions. Although these claims were important to their defense, Monsters questions if they were just meant to sway public opinion. The show balances sympathy for the brothers with the seriousness of their crime.

The series also struggles to avoid comparisons to Dahmer. Both seasons of Monster have been criticized for sensationalizing real events and ignoring the pain of the victims’ families. Just as Dahmer caused fresh grief for the families of its victims, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story risks downplaying the tragic Menendez case.

True crime has become a major obsession, filling TV screens, podcasts and documentaries. In December 2023, half of Canada’s top ten podcasts were true crime, according to Triton Digital. However, the genre often struggles to balance telling interesting stories with avoiding the exploitation of the real victims’ suffering.

Rita Isbell, sister of one of Jeffrey Dahmer’s victims, criticized Dahmer for re-traumatizing victims’ families. Similar concerns come up with Monsters. It raises the question: How many more versions of the Menendez case do we need and when does storytelling turn into exploitation?

The release of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has also faced criticism from the Menendez brothers. On Sept. 20, Erik Menendez, speaking through his brother Lyle, shared their disappointment with the series on Facebook.

In the post, Erik criticized the show for spreading “blatant lies” about their lives, saying, “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle […] I can only believe they were done so on purpose.”

He also suggested the portrayal was intentionally misleading, adding, “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.”

While Monsters tells a compelling story, the Menendez brothers believed the show missed the point and does not reflect the deeper truths of their experiences.