Before ‘Monsters,’ this campy Lifetime movie told the Menendez Bros’ story with Nico Tortorella & bad wigs
Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story dropped on Netflix, and regardless of what you think of the controversial, Ryan Murphy-produced series, there’s no denying it’s made quite the splash.For one, the world is finally catching up to what we’ve known for a while now: Cooper Koch is a star.
The out, anti-prosthetic actor shines in the series as the younger Erik Menendez (especially in the jaw-dropping fifth episode), and it’s been a blast watching him step into the spotlight since its debut.There’s also the fact that all the attention from Monsters has brought the brothers’ case back into the public forum, with a new hearing set for November.
It’s no question that Lyle and Erik murdered their parents in 1989, but new evidence and a deeper, modern understanding of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father means there’s a very real possibility they could be freed after more than 30 years in prison.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.Ryan Murphy is sounding off on amid the controversy over the Netflix series ‘Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story.’And that’s the power of television… or, at least, professionally made television on a global platform like Netflix.
The Menendez Brothers’ story has been adapted for the screen many times before, but those versions haven’t had nearly the culture-shifting impact that Monsters has.In 2017, NBC even tried to replicate Murphy’s American Crime Story formula with the short-lived anthology Law & Order True Crime, which only ever delivered one season focused on the Menendez murders.The miniseries received tepid reviews, though its marquee star—Edie Falco as the brothers’ defense attorney, Leslie Abramson—was praised for her role, and even nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie.But even more fascinating (for reasons both good and bad) is Lifetime’s oft-forgotten TV movie,.
