? ON THE TUBE TONIGHT-
(all times CLT)

After the televised series about their lives, Monsters, the Menendez brothers have released a documented response: In a world obsessed with true crime tales, The Menendez Brothers, directed by Alejandro Hartmann, dives into the Lyle and Erik Menendez case. This documentary revisits their complex narrative, examining it through the brothers’ lens instead of director Ryan Murphy’s — which took some artistic license. This series analyzes our changing views on trauma and abuse, all while unpacking the dramatic trials that turned into a media spectacle.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to external sources.)

It starts off with a heart-wrenching 911 call from Lyle, where he claims he and Erik stumbled upon their parents shot dead at home — which turned out to be orchestrated by them. The documentary hints that their privileged background might have allowed them to evade suspicion initially, as many interviewees suggest that society struggles to believe that “clean-cut, rich boys” could be capable of such heinous acts.

There's evidence presented: The documentary uses archival footage alongside interviews to illustrate the wild media frenzy that covered the trials. It also features insights from prosecutors, jurors, and others involved, offering a multi-layered view of this sensational case.

But it has its biases. The interviews with Erik and Lyle, conducted over the phone from prison, can feel a bit lenient, since they’re not really pushing them on some of the tougher questions. While the brothers express regret, their sincerity gets a little muddled in the dramatic atmosphere the documentary sometimes creates.

But it leaves us with a whole mess of questions: Were the trials fair? Are the Menendez brothers unrepentant killers, or broken by their father's abuse? Should we even give them a platform in the discussion about trauma? Overall, it invites us to rethink the narratives surrounding crime and victimhood in today’s world, all while acknowledging its own limitations as it tries to take a clear stance on a morally murky issue.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can watch the documentary on Netflix or watch the trailer on YouTube (runtime: 2:33).

Tags: