Making headlines in the late 20th century, the case of the Menendez Brothers gained attention once again with Neftlix’s second film release about them.
On Oct. 7, “The Menendez Brothers,” a documentary directed by Alejandro Hartman, was released, following the series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” directed by Ryan Murphy.
Erik and Lyle Menendez’s case erupted after the killings of their Hollywood producer father Jose Menendez and mother Kitty Menendez on Aug. 20, 1989. Only a year later, the brothers were arrested for the murders.
The trial began in the summer of 1993, where it was revealed that the brothers suffered horrific abuse from their parents. The brothers first trial ended in a mistrial, while the second trial did not end any better. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
30 years later, the brothers are finally able to tell their own truth and story. Gaining massive attention, a movement to finally free the brothers from their incarceration is on the rise. The documentary includes hours of interviews from both Erik and Lyle Menendez, prosecutors, jurors, family members, and many others involved in the case.
Many conflicting opinions and views were presented from everyone; not only on the case itself, but on the fairness of the trials. Jurors spoke out about how they conducted their verdict, as well as how the public had an impact on it. For context, the public’s impact on the trials back then was massive; the new generation is once again impacting the cases heavily.
The documentary informs the watcher about the possible success of the movement to free the brothers from prison. The future of the Menendez brothers’ incarceration may change significantly, as new evidence and a push to reexamine evidence and the fairness of the trial is underway.
The documentary is a great resource to learn more about the Menendez brothers’ story firsthand. There are hours of the Menendez Brothers trials that discuss the case itself, but this documentary provides a deeper exploration of the feelings and thoughts of the brothers.
