Erik and Lyle Menendez are getting their own non-“Monsters” platform on Netflix.
Continuing a recent trend for true-crime series, Netflix will soon debut a documentary on the Menendez brothers to accompany their fictionalized Ryan Murphy series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which was released last week. The documentary, titled “The Menendez Brothers” and directed by Alejandro Hartmann (“Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta?,” “The Photographer: Murder in Pinamar”), will be released on October 7.
Hartmann’s doc aims to offer “another perspective” on the infamous case. We got the trailer today — watch it below.
This one-two combination of a scripted series and then a documentary mirrors the strategy Peacock has employed with its “Dr. Death” seasons. NBCUniversal’s Peacock also recently released a series of Scott Peterson interviews from prison, which followed Netflix’s “American Murder: Laci Peterson.”
The first season of “Monsters,” centered on serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, was a massive viewership success for Netflix. It is currently the streaming service’s fourth-most-watched season of TV ever, in any language. But it was not immune from backlash, including criticisms over it not spotlighting the victims’ perspectives or collaborating with the real-life families.
The Menendez-brothers documentary could help better balance the second “Monster” season — but that’s really not the point, a source close to production told IndieWire. The hope is that interest in one feeds viewership into the other, and so the streamer is cross-promoting its Menendez content.
Netflix has used similar programming strategies with a Ted Bundy narrative series (“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”) and a true-crime series (“Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes”), as well as an Arnold Schwarzenegger narrative series (“Fubar”) and documentary series (“Arnold”).
Journalistic balance, though not required here, may be a happy accident. And optically, it could not come at a better time.
Netflix is facing a lawsuit over Emmy-winning limited series “Baby Reindeer,” which is billed as being a “true story.” The “real-life Martha,” Fiona Harvey, has taken exception with numerous dramatized elements in the show. Netflix has stood behind “Baby Reindeer” creator Richard Gadd, and even recently signed him to a first-look development deal.
Lyle and Erik Menendez are interviewed for the documentary film, which also features new interviews with their cousin Diane Vander Molen and Pamela Bozanich, who was the prosecutor on the case. During the trial, the brothers alleged that they were the victims of sexual abuse by their father José Menendez; the prosecutors argued that the duo’s motive for murder was to inherit their parents’ wealth.
Both Lyle and Erik have recently slammed Murphy’s “Monsters” series. A statement from Erik on the Menendez social media page alleged that the series was “rooted in horrible and blatant lies” and said that both brothers have been depicted in “vile and appalling” ways. Relatives of the brothers also claimed that Murphy’s series is “pathetic” and ”re-victimizing.”
“It is imaginary. It is fiction,” the statement reads. “So, these ‘writers/creators’ got up in the morning, ate their cornflakes, and went to an office where they decided to lie about rape survivors who have suffered every single day of their life. The professionals did this for money. How ironic. Never forget: There was more evidence of abuse in the first trial than there is in most successful child abuse prosecutions.”
The official synopsis for the documentary is as follows: “In 1996, Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted for the murders of their parents in what became one of the most famous criminal cases of the late 20th century. When Erik and Lyle Menendez were found guilty of the brutal murder of their parents, the world was watching. The family was a Beverly Hills fixture that became a tabloid sensation: Gallons of ink were spilled and hours of television commentary aired discussing the brothers’ crimes. Now you can hear the story in their own words. For the first time in 30 years, and in their own words, both brothers revisit the trial that shocked the nation.”
The documentary is produced by Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans, with Ross Girard and Mark McCune executive producing. The co-executive producers are Dani Sloane, Gina Scarlata, Cecilia Salguero, Will Mavronicolas, and JP Quicquaro.
“The Menendez Brothers” comes out on October 7. Watch the trailer here:
Tony Maglio contributed reporting.