Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story - Netflix

[Rollergirl11]

Anyone watching? It’s really quite bizarre; it’s almost played for laughs.

Is that Milli Vanilli they’re playing?! 🤪😂

It was a challenging watch I agree. I’m presuming episode 5 was based on a true account of that interview with Eric? I wonder is that on tape somewhere?

The way the camera ever so gradually closes in on him until it ends with him in extreme close up. Really powerful. And yet his actual testimony in court was so crap. I suppose nowadays they might use the filmed testimony as mitigating evidence, they were both traumatised people so could they be held completely responsible for what they did?

I don't know how faithful The Hurt Man was to Erik's account of his abuse, but I found this interesting article about the long take in that episode:

variety.com/2024/tv/news/monsters-episode-5-erik-menendez-single-take-1236155026/

Crikey @westisbest1982 - the poor actor having to do that so many times before they hit the perfect take. He definitely deserves the Emmy.

this is the original court footage that the scene relates to. The actual whole thing is 3 hours long (and is on you tube as well) if you want to see it all. I think the actor did a very good job.

I would recommend the C4 documentary "Erik Tells All". It has many real videos from the trial.

Yep I appreciate the trial was filmed and there is lots of footage of the trial, but that episode was just an interview with the lawyer before the trial started, not the trial. I was wondering if that bit was actually filmed and that’s what they based that amazing episode on.

Any meetings would be subject to client attorney privilege and I don't think the filmmakers could gain access - unless they agreed to it being released/viewed.

Wondering what this news is that in 60 days they may be released or something? Because of new evidence; one being a letter Erik had written to his cousin and the other being one of the boys from the band who has stated Jose Menendez drugged and raped him.

What news? Do you have a link?

I'm on episode 3 - so far it's pretty close to what was said in the documentary about them, so I actually think the film is pretty close to how they behaved in real life (complete idiots until they hired a great lawyer)

Ah, it wasn't about them being released but more if they will reopen the case due to new evidence. I highly doubt they will though

I haven’t yet finished reading this but it tells what happened after they got life sentences
https://people.com/where-are-the-menendez-brothers-now-8623562

The case is going to be reviewed:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8djrdzn19vo

I absolutely love the series. The acting is superb from everyone - the father and sons in particular. The screenplay is great and close to true events. I must say I have never believed the SA story and that's where the series lands. No wonder the Menedez clan didn't like it 😂

I honestly believe that if this case happened now, it would have been a different outcome.

Or if they were females.

I don't understand why the judge didn't allow the SA to be mentioned in their last trial? Does anyone know the reason?

They don’t like the show, but they do believe in the sexual abuse allegations.

I definitely believe the SA. I mean, the new evidence suggests it happened too

How can people believe them when Lyle literally said it was all made up for the jury?

They never mentioned SA as a motive to anyone (including the doctor they confessed to) until they hired Abramson who used it as a defence in her previous case.

No, he didn't. Also, family and friends corroborated Lyle's and Erik's statements about the abuse, some testified.

Of course he did - that was the whole reason he couldn't testify at the 2nd trial.

I saw some of the live testimony of the witnesses and none of them actually witnessed the SA.

Abuse as in the father was hard on them - yes. SA - there is no evidence of. The family support them because everyone hated the father, but there is absolutely zero credible evidence that their description of the SA was true. That's why they've been imprisoned for over 30 years.

You're still wrong @XelaM . There is nothing out there that states that Lyle lied to the jury about the sexual abuse, nothing.

Also, newsflash - sexual abuse of children is rarely witnessed.

Also they didn't tell the therapist due to José telling the therapy he must tell him everything that the boys discussed in their sessions...

Therapist*

I'm a bit late to the party, but I bloody loved this series! It took me a couple of episodes to get me into it. But it was gripping from then and onwards. And yes, I thought the actors were phenomenal in episodes 4 and 5, but what blew me away the most was toward the end of episode 9.
Where they were being transported to different prisons! Where they were being led individually in shackles, then Eric saw Lyle and thought he was going to be transferred to the same prison as him.
They got in the cars and while on the journey their eyes met and they were happy thinking they would be together. Then the cars took different directions and you could just see the emotions in their eyes! All the while milli vanilli "I'm gonna miss you" is playing! OMG
They are both such talented actors and the direction/casting/EVERYTHING was just so brilliant! I must have watched that scene about 10 times now, and I just keep thinking "what if that were me and my sister" it's so very touching. (Yes me and my sister had a shit childhood, not rape, but very very abusive and I just get their turmoil and how much you depend on the other person who has gone through it with you)

Why did they depict Erik as gay when he's not?
I really liked it though it was a tough watch. I just don't know what bits were real and what bits they just threw in there to make it interesting. Il have to get reading up on the case