While Netflix has delivered many popular titles throughout 2024, none have matched the impact of “Monsters”. As of this writing, the series has consistently held the #1 or #2 spot on the global rankings since its release on September 21, sparking widespread conversation.
As widely known, this installment serves as the second season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology, following his 2022 hit series on Jeffrey Dahmer, starring Evan Peters. Recognizing the audience’s fascination with notorious criminals, Murphy decided to expand the concept, with each season planned to be focusing on a different infamous figure. For the second part, he chose the Menendez brothers.
The title has ignited strong reactions. Erik Menendez publicly condemned the production, while Murphy fired back, claiming “Monsters” was the best thing that could have happened for them, as it has garnered millions of supporters, and their case will now be revisited. Amid the controversy, Netflix has added a documentary titled “The Menendez Brothers”. Here’s how it differs from the “American Horror Story” creator’s dramatization.
Menendez Brothers case: Netflix documentary vs. Ryan Murphy’s ‘Monsters’
Since “Monsters” premiered on Netflix, interest in the Menendez brothers’ story has surged. Many viewers researching their case suggest that watching the documentary available on the platform as of October 7 offers a more complete understanding than Ryan Murphy’s dramatization. But why is that?
It’s not that Murphy misrepresented the truth. Rather, he presented multiple interpretations on it. In various interviews discussing the incestuous scenes between Cooper Koch and Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Murphy explained that the series combines a range of theories about the case, from the most plausible to the most sensationalist.
Thus, “Monsters” is not an accurate portrayal of the events as they happened but rather a mosaic of media narratives that have emerged since the murders. This is why Erik Menendez stated, “I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.”
In contrast, the two-hour documentary “The Menendez Brothers” offers firsthand accounts from the brothers after decades of silence. It includes testimonies from various perspectives, allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions. From family members to Pamela Bozanich, the attorney known for believing the brothers fabricated their abuse claims, all points of view are presented.
Directed by Alejandro Hartmann, a renowned Argentine filmmaker recognized for his honest and balanced approach in crime documentaries like “The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar” and “Carmel: Who Killed María Marta?,” “The Menendez Brothers” presents an objective exploration of the case.