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What you should know about the documentary “The Menendez Brothers” on Netflix

What you should know about the documentary “The Menendez Brothers” on Netflix

With Monsters: The Story of Lyle and Erik Menendez The streamer is already proving to be a big hit for Netflix, letting the infamous brothers give their take on their crimes and trials that have captivated the entire country in a new documentary.

On Monday, Netflix released a first preview The Menendez brothersDirector: Alejando Hartmann. The upcoming documentary features new interviews with the imprisoned siblings who were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents José and Kitty Menendez and are now serving life without parole.

“Litres of ink were spilled and hours of television commentary were broadcast about the brothers’ crimes. Now you can hear the story in its own words,” Netflix writes in its synopsis.

Neither Lyle, 56, nor Erik, 53, were involved in the production Monster, The nine-episode anthology, released Thursday, quickly became the streamer’s most-watched show in dozens of countries, with more than 12 million views. Erik was highly critical of the series’ dramatized interpretation of events, calling the series a “dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime” in a statement released via social media.

So what will happen next? The Menenedez brothers be different? Here’s what we know so far about the documentary and the extent of the brothers’ involvement.

When is that the case? The Menendez brothers Premiere on Netflix?

The new documentary begins streaming on Monday, October 7th. According to Netflix, the running time is 1 hour and 56 minutes.

Are Lyle and Erik Menendez in the documentary?

Netflix has confirmed that Lyle and Erik Menendez participated in audio interviews for the documentary. This is the first time in nearly 30 years that both brothers have “revisited the trial that shocked the nation,” the streamer said. Lyle and Erik are featured heavily in the trailer The Menendez brothers through voice-overs and archive material.

At the start of the documentary’s trailer, the brothers admit that they are speaking from the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego, where they are currently incarcerated. “What happened that night (of the murders) is very well known, but so much hasn’t been told,” Erik said in one exchange.

Who else took part? The Menendez brothers?

The new documentary also includes interviews with prosecutor Pamela Bozanich and Diane Vander Molen, a cousin of the brothers who testified that Lyle confided in her in 1976 about his sexual abuse by Jose. These allegations, and similar statements made by Erik, were a crucial part of the brothers’ defense in court, particularly in their initial trials. They said they killed their parents in self-defense after suffering years of abuse.

What other films and series are there about the Menendez brothers?

Monsterwhich starred serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in Season 1, is the most well-known television project to feature the Menendez case in recent years, but there have been many others.

One of the more dramatic interpretations of the brothers’ story is the television film Menendez: Blood brothers (2017) starring Courtney Love as Kitty Menendez and the Emmy-nominated NBC limited series Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders from the same year.

Erik was previously involved in a documentary project with A&E. The Menendez Murders: Erik tells it alla five-part documentary from 2017 contains detailed telephone interviews with the younger sibling.

Peacock was only released last year, in May 2023 Menendez + Menudo: Betrayed Boys. The three-part documentary features an interview with 54-year-old Roy Rosselló, a former member of the boy band Menudo, who says José Menendez, a record executive, drugged and raped him when he was just 14 years old. The documentary examines the allegations that could mean for the brothers’ small but enduring hopes of one day getting out of prison.

Headshot by Tyler Piccotti

Tyler Piccotti joined for the first time Biography.com He was named Associate News Editor in February 2023 and previously worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for nearly eight years. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. When he’s not writing and researching his next story, you can find him at the nearest amusement park, watching the latest movie, or cheering on his favorite sports teams.

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