The long-awaited second season of Ryan Murphy’s crime anthology series, Monster, is now available on Netflix. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story focuses on one of the most famous legal cases in the United States.
This new season faces criticism for how it shows the Menendez brothers and the details of the murders.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch play the brothers, while Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny portray their parents, José and Kitty Menendez. The series covers a seven-year timeline, starting from the murders in 1989 to the brothers’ sentencing in 1996.
The first season, Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, also received a lot of backlash when it was released. Critics called out the show for glorifying a real-life serial killer.
Families of Dahmer’s victims said the series retraumatized them and that they were not involved in the making of the show.
Similarly, the second season of Monster has been criticized for being an exploitative retelling of events. However, it has also sparked new interest in the case, especially after the discovery of new evidence.
The Menendez Brothers Case Still Lives in Infamy
On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their parents in their home in Beverly Hills.
The brutal nature of the killings and the fact that José Menendez, an entertainment executive, had several business rivals made police suspect that the Mafia was involved.
This theory was supported by the Menendez brothers themselves. Initially, Lyle and Erik were not seen as suspects. However, their strange behavior, especially their spending habits right after the murders, raised suspicions. At the time, José Menendez was worth about $14 million.
According to Robert Rand’s book, The Menendez Murders, the brothers spent almost $700,000 within a few months of their parents’ deaths.
In 1990, Erik confessed to his psychologist, Dr. Jerome Oziel. Erik had seen Dr. Oziel for court-ordered therapy after being involved in a series of burglaries. Dr. Oziel recorded their sessions and told his mistress about the confession. She then reported the murders to the police, leading to the arrest of the brothers.
After they were arrested, Lyle and Erik claimed they killed their parents out of fear due to years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse from their father.
Two Trials Turned the Menendez Brothers Into Tabloid Sensations
The case went to trial in 1993 and gained a lot of media attention because of the brothers’ claims against their parents.
The trial was broadcast on Court TV, turning the Menendez case into a prime-time event with constant coverage before, during, and after both trials.
Still from Monsters The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Credit: Netflix)
Renowned criminal defense attorney Leslie Abramson represented both brothers in the 1993 trial, but they faced separate juries. The first trials focused mainly on the sexual abuse Lyle and Erik said they suffered from their father, José Menendez, as well as their mother Kitty Menendez’s alleged indifference after learning about the abuse.
Some members of the extended Menendez family supported the claims of sexual abuse, but the prosecution argued that the brothers killed their parents for money. They controversially claimed that men cannot be sexually abused because they “lack the necessary equipment.”
The 1993 trials ended with two hung juries, leading to a retrial in 1996. Lyle and Erik were found guilty of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
They received life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole. The Menendez case raised many questions about abuse, wealth, and the criminal justice system.
During the brothers’ second trial, the limited understanding of sexual abuse at the time led to the exclusion of their abuse claims.
‘Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story’ Has Caused Renewed Interest in the Case
All nine episodes of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story were released on September 19 and have already faced criticism online regarding how the series handled the Menendez brothers’ case.
While the show mostly sticks to the facts and includes the typical sensationalism of a Ryan Murphy crime drama, the earlier episodes portray the brothers as having a somewhat incestuous relationship.
This portrayal seems irresponsible, especially considering the later episodes that discuss the sexual abuse Lyle (played by Chavez) and Erik (played by Koch) allegedly faced from their father, José Menendez (played by Bardem).
Despite this criticism, the series has succeeded in bringing attention back to the Menendez brothers’ story.
Fox News 11 reported that the show “has brought renewed interest to the Menendez brothers’ case.” This interest has led to a group of TikTok users advocating for clemency for the brothers.
Social media users have reacted to the Menendez case before, but this happens at a time when Lyle and Erik are still serving life sentences in the RJ Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego.
They are seeking a new hearing and retrial after new evidence supporting their claims of sexual abuse was found in 2023.
Still from Monsters The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Credit: Netflix)
In 2023, Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, a series on Peacock, was released. This show discussed the abuse that former Menudo member Roy Rosselló said he suffered from the band’s manager, Edgardo Díaz.
Rosselló claims that he was also sexually abused by José Menendez when he was with Menudo in New York at age 13.
This evidence, along with a letter from Erik Menendez to his cousin in 1988 that mentioned the abuse, led to a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of the Menendez brothers. If this petition succeeds, their convictions could be overturned.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is available for streaming on Netflix.
The promise of a French social satire addressing French xenophobia and the global refugee crisis might not seem like a story that would attract a large audience.
However, when you consider that Meet the Barbarians (Les Barbares in French) is directed by Julie Delpy, a well-known figure in French cinema and co-star of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy, more people might find it interesting.
Set in a beautiful small town in Brittany, France, this story about life in Paimpont brings gentle humor, a bit of romance, and plenty of political commentary.
What Is ‘Meet the Barbarians’ About?
The quiet town of Paimpont seems far removed from the troubles of the outside world, but things change when the local schoolteacher, Joëlle (played by Julie Delpy), along with the town’s Mayor (Jean-Charles Clichet), plans to welcome Ukrainian refugees to their community.
They proudly raise the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag with help from other townspeople like Anne (Sandrine Kiberlain), a shopkeeper and longtime friend of Joëlle, and Hervé (Laurent Lafitte), a town councilor and plumber.
Hervé is of Alsatian origin but claims to be Breton with great enthusiasm, even though he had some doubts about the arrival of newcomers.
Before the Ukrainians arrive, they receive news that the Ukrainian families have been placed elsewhere in the country, and instead, they will be hosting a Syrian family.
The Syrian family, having faced a difficult journey and now anxious about adjusting to their new home, enters a community that is unsure about its initial generosity and willingness to welcome outsiders.
The strong performances by Ziad Barkri, Dalia Naous, and Rita Hayek add depth to this touching yet entertaining story of integration, acceptance, and overcoming ignorance.
Issues around culture, from food to faith and family, are shown in what is otherwise a light and easy-to-follow plot.
Julie Delpy Shines as Both Director and Actor
Julie Delpy, as always, is attractive in her role, playing the kind-hearted but often clueless teacher with charm and believability. This film feels like a family project, with Delpy’s father, Albert, portraying a quirky local farmer who, in another era, might have been a character in a John Ford film.
Mathieu Demy, son of famous filmmakers Jacques Demy and Agnès Varda, adds a brooding presence to the mix, while the rest of the cast feels authentic in this slightly exaggerated depiction of small-town life.
Delpy manages to poke fun at the narrow-mindedness of the town’s residents while also recognizing the passionate, but sometimes misguided, efforts of those trying to make a difference.
Still from Meet the Barbarians (Credit: Le Pacte)
The Syrian characters are portrayed with depth, showing that even within their community, there are deep wounds and unresolved conflicts.
‘Meet the Barbarians’ Is a Heartfelt Look at Community
Prejudice doesn’t stop at borders, and this film cleverly highlights that fact, offering a thoughtful yet funny portrayal of human flaws. The film often presents obvious moments, only to surprise the audience with more subtle, meaningful conclusions.
We are given a lighthearted, entertaining, and timely reflection on the need to question our assumptions and work through our biases, no matter where we come from.
The residents of Paimpont are not portrayed as mere caricatures of ignorant country folk; their behaviors and attitudes are relatable to people everywhere.
The film shows deep issues with humor and grace, making us laugh at ourselves as much as we laugh at the characters.
Meet the Barbarians offers an engaging view of how communities are built and maintained and how people from different backgrounds can come together to create something better.
