“The Menendez Brothers” Documentary Review

*This article contains topics of abuse and violence that could be triggering. Read at your own discretion.*

On August 20, 1989, public figure Jose Menendez and wife “Kitty” Menendez were found shot to death in their luxury Beverly Hills home. Nearly 35 years since their two sons, Lyle and Erik Menendez, were arrested for the gruesome slayings, audiences all around the globe have tuned into Netflix’s groundbreaking documentary “The Menendez Brothers” to finally hear the whole story.

“The Menendez Brothers” documentary on Netflix gives perspective and much-needed narration from the brothers on why and how the events of that fateful night unfolded. The dark secrets of the family's history and a case that shocked America for decades is portrayed through court documentation and media frenzies depicting the grip this case had over the late 20th century.

The film director, Ross M. Dinerstein, does an outstanding job showing that this case is not as black and white as it may seem. Real testimony from the brothers from where they currently reside (Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego) is used as snippets of audio throughout the documentary. This is a welcomed surprise to an audience who had no clue we would actually be hearing from the brothers in current time.

The documentary showcases the confusion felt by many of those who had been following the case at the time. It was difficult to distinguish what was real and what was an act.

Through one lens, Lyle and Erik Menendez were teenage boys looking to inherit an enormous amount of money from the passing of their mother and father. On the other hand, as the defense argued, behind closed doors the Menendez family was not as cheery and remarkable as they had appeared to the public.

As expressed by both Lyle and Erik during testimony, their childhood was centered around unimaginable abuse at the hands of their father Jose, and their mother “Kitty” was a bystander to the torture endured by the boys all the way up until the murders occurred.

What stuck out as most intriguing about this documentary was the switching between live interviews with the people in the case and the footage of them from when they were young and taking part in the trial. It was so well put together and planned out for the audience to be able to connect with each individual person speaking.

It's refreshing to get multiple perspectives on the case from the people who actually lived it, as well as found footage and testimony from the period of time the case took place. The crew of this documentary clearly put hard work and effort into every little detail.

From the music cutting to allowing moments of suspended silence to incorporating acted scenes to move the story along, every scene felt thought out and well-planned.

Overall, the film does a fantastic job portraying uncomfortable emotions and a twisted tale of a house of horrors. It dives into the background and circumstances around the murders and the events that followed in an easy-to-understand but still suspenseful way.

This one is definitely for true crime fans. Steer clear if you have a sensitive stomach, though, because the crime scene photos get a little gory. This documentary takes twists and turns like no other and leaves you feeling just as confused about the truth as when you first hit play. For those with a sensitive stomach, it's best to steer clear, as the crime scene photos get a little gory. The documentary takes twists and turns like no other, leaving viewers just as confused about the truth as when it first begins.

Rating: 5/5

Molly Cochran is a first-year majoring in communications. To contact her, email mkc6475@psu.edu.