Monsters on Netflix: This is what the real heroes of the Menendez case look like

Already #1 on Netflix, Monsters: A new in-house production from Lyle and Eric Menendez on one of the most famous and disturbing crimes of the 90s, following the huge success of this new season’s Dahmer – created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan , highlights the Menendez couple’s double murder, committed by their two sons, Lyle and Eric.

But what did the heroes of this tragedy, which marked America more than 35 years ago, look like? Let’s delve into the portraits of the real people behind this horrifying case.

The Menendez Brothers: From Young Heirs to Parisicides

Cooper Koch, who plays Eric Menendez, and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, who plays Lyle Menendez, star as the Menendez brothers in the series. Lyle, 21, and Eric, 18, were the children of wealthy couple Jose and Kitty Menendez at the time of the crime. Before the tragedy, two young people appeared as privileged heirs living in luxury in Beverly Hills. However, things came crashing down in 1996 when they were convicted of murdering their parents at gunpoint in their home.

Their defense rocked public opinion: The brothers said their father, Jose Menendez, had been physically and sexually abusing them for years, and that their mother, Kitty, had turned a blind eye to the abuse. The accusations divided America, with some seeing them as victims of a destructive family system, while others saw them as parricide motivated by money and inheritance.

Jose Menendez: A successful super executive who was murdered by his sons

The series stars Jose Menendez as Javier Bardem, a tremendous actor making his first series role and playing this businessman with intensity. In fact, Jose Menendez was an influential music industry executive who worked for prestigious companies such as RCA Records. He is described as a rigid and authoritarian man with considerable wealth at his head.

Kitty Menendez: A Neglected and Devastated Mother

Chloë Sevigny lends her features to Kitty Menendez, the mother of two brothers, in this adaptation. Kitty, who shared a life of luxury with her husband, was described as a fragile and depressed woman who struggled with addiction issues. According to some accounts, she ignored or turned a blind eye to her husband’s abuse of their children. His death, like Jose’s, left an indelible mark on American criminal history.

Key figures involved in the Menendez case

The Menendez case is not complete without discussing other figures who played a crucial role in the trial. In the series, Dallas Roberts plays psychologist Jerome Oziel, who Eric Menendez confesses to, thus starting an investigation.

Nathan Lane stars as Dominic Dunne, a Vanity Fair journalist and writer who has been following the trial closely, having himself lost his daughter to the death of his partner.

Finally, Ari Graynor plays Leslie Abramson, a lawyer known for her combative personality and fierce defense of the Menendez brothers.

A case that continues to fascinate

More than 35 years after the events, the Menendez case remains one of the most discussed criminal cases in the United States. Family drama, abuse allegations, a high-profile trial, and harsh sentences handed down to the Menendez brothers helped cement the case in popular culture.

Monsters: With the story of Lyle and Eric Menendez, Ryan Murphy brings this dark story to life, offering a disturbing reconstruction of the events and highlighting the gray areas that are still discussed today.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is currently available on Netflix.