Netflix Unveils Chilling Trailer for Monsters: The Lyle Erik Menendez Story

Netflix has unveiled a chilling new teaser trailer for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” the second installment in Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s true-crime anthology series. Premiering on September 19, this nine-part limited series follows the Emmy-winning “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” which earned Niecy Nash-Betts a statuette. The nearly minute-long teaser aims to reignite interest in the notorious Menendez brothers’ case, which captivated tabloids and audiences alike.

“Monsters” delves into the real-life case of brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez, who on August 20, 1989, murdered their wealthy parents, Jose and Mary Louise “Kitty” Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home. Convicted in 1996, the brothers have always maintained their actions were driven by a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their parents, despite the prosecution’s claim that the crimes were committed to inherit the family fortune.

The series revisits this historic case, which contributed to the modern-day fascination with true crime, and poses a probing question: Who are the real monsters? Esteemed actor Javier Bardem stars as Jose Menendez, with Chloe Sevigny portraying his wife, Kitty. Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch play Lyle and Erik Menendez, respectively. The cast also features Nathan Lane as writer and investigative journalist Dominick Dunne, and Ari Graynor as the Menendez brothers’ defense attorney, Leslie Abramson.

The teaser highlights the stark contrast between the Menendez family’s public image and the grim reality behind closed doors. It begins with a family portrait session featuring a seemingly perfect Menendez family, impeccably dressed and smiling for the camera. Voiceovers, however, quickly dispel the facade. Chloe Sevigny’s Kitty asks, “I need to know what’s going on with you and the boys,” and when Bardem’s Jose responds with, “What do you mean?” Kitty emphasizes her desire for transparency, promising, “I won’t tell anyone.” Jose, in a voiceover, pledges, “I’m going to fix this family.”

As the trailer reaches its climax, a tense scene featuring the shirtless brothers embracing in the dark implies the deep bond and desperation between them. One of them quietly states, “It’s just us now,” followed by the ominous sound of a gunshot.

The writing team for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” includes Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, David McMillan, Todd Kubrak, and Reilly Smith. The series is directed by Brennan, Max Winkler, Paris Barclay, Michael Uppendahl, and Carl Franklin.

Source: Netflix