Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Graphic violence, abuse detailed in true crime case docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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The Menendez Brothers
What's the Story?
THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS delves into the sensational case of brothers Erik and Lyle Menendez, who were convicted in the 1990s of murdering their parents. The documentary combines phone interviews from prison with the two brothers with archival footage from the case, as well as interviews with journalists, authors, experts, family members, and attorneys. The film also has footage from their first trial, where claims of sexual abuse by their father were revealed in detail, and discussion of the social context of their era.
Is It Any Good?
The 1990s Menendez brothers trial has elicited renewed attention in recent years, and this persuasive documentary looks to capitalize on that interest. Judging by controversial headlines that have erupted in the weeks leading up to The Menendez Brothers' release on Netflix, preceded by the Monsters series' take from Ryan Murphy, that's not going to be a problem. Viewers be warned: This is not an impartial or journalistic text. It takes a clear side, cherry-picks its evidence, and argues a convincing case. The terrible details of both the crime and the events leading up to it make for a challenging watch. The backbone is 20 hours of "exclusive interviews" by phone with the imprisoned brothers, now in their 50s. Director Hartmann keeps the pace brisk by setting their narrative to a trove of archival video as well as some dramatized reenactments.
Two other components stand out: significant footage from the first trial, which ended in a mistrial when the jury couldn't come to an agreement, and the only real contrarian voice in the film from prosecutor Pamela Bozanich. Both are startling. A jury member suggests the disagreement came down along gender lines, with female jurors empathizing much more with the boys, and men (remember, this is the early '90s) not believing, or not wanting to believe, their tale of sexual abuse. Meanwhile, Bozanich has a clear personal animus toward them, and still doesn't buy their testimony. You can reach your own verdict while the brothers await word on a petition to vacate their convictions, but you might want to collect evidence from beyond this partial production.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what they knew of The Menendez Brothers case before this documentary, and what they learned that was new. What does the film leave out? Who do you believe?
Why do some criminal cases capture the public attention more than others? What do you think are the possible positive and negative outcomes of this attention?
The film shines a spotlight on male sexual abuse survivors. Do you agree this is a matter that is treated differently today than 30 years ago? Why would that be? Where can you go for more information?
Of the people interviewed in the film, who do you believe more or less? Why? What does this tell you about the director's intentions, the interview process, and media coverage of crimes in general?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 7, 2024
- Cast : Lyle Menendez , Erik Menendez
- Director : Alejandro Hartmann
- Inclusion Information : Latino Movie Actor(s) , Cuban Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , History
- Run time : 118 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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