Ryan Murphy’s upcoming limited series, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, is poised to stir up emotions and perceptions for those familiar with the infamous Beverly Hills crime committed by the Menendez brothers. The new series trailer presents a chilling portrayal that may challenge the longstanding public opinion of Lyle and Erik Menendez, who brutally killed their parents in 1989.
The trailer is unsettling, not just for its dark tone, but for its audacious reimagining of the case. The clip opens with a seemingly perfect family posing for a portrait, but the scene quickly unravels as the parents’ voices echo ominously, and the brothers, now shirtless, embrace just as a gunshot rings out, splattering blood. The voice-over, provided by Chloe Sevigny and Javier Bardem, who play José and Kitty Menendez, suggests a dark undercurrent in the Menendez household: “I need to know what’s going on with you and the boys,” whispers one parent, followed by, “I’m going to fix this family.” These lines hint at the defense argument presented during the Menendez trials—that José Menendez had been sexually abusing his sons, and Kitty had turned a blind eye.
During the trials, this defense was widely dismissed. The brothers were ultimately convicted of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder, and were sentenced to consecutive life terms without parole. Their defense, which portrayed them as victims of severe parental abuse acting out of fear for their lives, was not only rejected by the juries but also by much of the American public, who watched the courtroom drama unfold on Court TV.
Three decades later, however, Murphy’s series invites viewers to reconsider the Menendez brothers’ story. This fresh perspective comes at a time when society has begun reexamining notorious cases from the past with a more critical eye, particularly in light of how media coverage and public perception can influence legal outcomes. The Menendez brothers, who have spent more than half their lives in prison, now find their case being reanalyzed, with some seeing them less as ruthless killers and more as tragic figures trapped in a cycle of abuse.
Journalist and author Robert Rand, who has covered the Menendez case for 35 years, has been instrumental in keeping their story alive. His book, The Menendez Murders: The Shocking Untold Story of the Menendez Family and the Killings that Stunned the Nation, first published in 2018, has been updated with new revelations that could potentially alter the brothers’ fate. Rand’s meticulous research uncovered a letter written by Erik Menendez to his cousin Andy Cano a year before the murders, in which Erik described the ongoing abuse by his father. This letter, a significant piece of physical evidence supporting the brothers’ claims, was never presented during their trials.
Moreover, a recent Peacock docuseries produced by Rand, Menendez + Menudo: Boys Betrayed, introduced another piece of compelling evidence. Roy Rosselló, a former member of the popular Latin boy band Menudo, alleged that José Menendez sexually assaulted him when he was a teenager. This accusation, along with the Menendez brothers’ consistent claims of abuse, lends new weight to their defense, potentially paving the way for a reevaluation of their case.
As the premiere of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story approaches, the Menendez brothers continue to hold out hope for a favorable outcome to their habeas corpus petition, which could lead to their sentences being overturned. While they have adjusted to life behind bars—teaching classes, counseling fellow inmates, and even working on a mural in their prison yard—they remain cautiously optimistic about their chances for freedom.
Rand, who visited Lyle Menendez as recently as August, shared with The Hollywood Reporter that Lyle and Erik are both resigned to the possibility of spending the rest of their lives in prison, yet remain hopeful. Lyle reportedly told Rand, “We’re very hopeful that there will be a favorable outcome of the habeas plea. But if there’s not, Erik and I are resigned to living our lives, our entire lives, in prison.”
As the public prepares to revisit this notorious case through Murphy’s lens, it remains to be seen whether the Menendez brothers’ story will be seen in a new light—one that could change their future and possibly grant them the freedom they’ve been seeking for decades.
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