Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story – the second season of Ryan Murphy’s “Monsters” anthology series on Netflix – takes a real-life crime story and tries to replicate the same success as Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Unfortunately, the series doesn’t earn that much thanks to its dull storytelling, bloated pacing and limited emotional depth.

While the acting performances are excellent, particularly Javier Bardem as Jose Menendez and Cooper Koch as Erik Menendez, it’s not enough to redeem a forgettable viewing experience.

The case of Erik and Lyle Menendez focuses on the 1989 murder of their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills mansion. The brothers brutally shot their parents, initially claiming the murders were financially motivated, with the aim of inheriting their family’s wealth. However, during the trial, they revealed a much sadder story, alleging they had suffered years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

These claims became the mainstay of their defense, which argued that the murders were an act of desperation and self-defense. Despite this, in 1996, both brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a sentence they continue to serve today. The case remains one of the most controversial and talked-about family crime cases in American history.

Undoubtedly, the strongest aspect of the show is the acting. Nicholas Alexander Chavez as Lyle and Cooper Koch as Eric give strong portrayals of two men trapped in the horrific psychological aftermath of sexual abuse at the hands of their father.

The nuances of their performances bring to life characters who are both victims and perpetrators, creating a degree of sympathy for the Menendez brothers while never letting us forget the severity of their crimes.

Javier Bardem, as always, has a commanding screen presence, portraying abusive patriarch José Menéndez with a disturbing intensity. His scenes with Chloë Sevigny (Kitty Menéndez) are filled with tension, reflecting the dysfunction and toxicity that exists within the Menéndez family. Sevigny, though underutilized in the narrative, conveys the quiet agony of a mother who is either blind to or complicit in the abuse perpetrated by her husband.

Visually, the show is stunning. The cinematography is superb, often zooming in on key moments to heighten the tension and make the audience feel like they are in the room with the characters.

The lighting choices, particularly during flashback scenes of the brothers’ abuse, add an eerie atmosphere that complements the subject matter. However, strong visuals and good acting can’t compensate for the show’s many problems.

Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story fails spectacularly in its storytelling and pacing. The show stretches the narrative into 9 episodes, which is far more than is needed for this case. The story could have easily been condensed into a miniseries, creating a denser, more engaging narrative. Instead, the show drags on, with entire episodes feeling like filler as they repeat the same information or get bogged down in unnecessary subplots that do little to move the story forward.

The pacing is also frustratingly inconsistent. Some episodes rush through important moments, such as murders or court proceedings, while others linger too long on mundane details that do little to illuminate the characters or the case.

For a series revolving around such a high-profile murder trial, there’s shockingly little tension. The courtroom drama falls flat, and the emotional stakes, which should be high given the Menendez brothers’ traumatic backstory, fail to resonate as deeply as they should.

One of the biggest shortcomings of this show is that it fails to fully explore the emotional and psychological trauma of the brothers. Although the series touches upon the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father, it feels superficial. The show never delves deeply into how this abuse affected their mental health and decision-making.

Instead, it feels like the abuse is used more as a plot device than an opportunity for subtle character development. The lack of emotional depth leaves the audience with little to connect with, making it hard to care about the brothers or their fate. The show feels like it’s created from the lens presented by the prosecution during the trial.

The show also struggles with tone. While it attempts to present the Menendez brothers as complex individuals, it often leans too heavily on portraying them as cold, calculated killers, undermining its own attempt to humanize them. The series seems confused about whether it wants to evoke sympathy for the brothers or condemn them, leaving viewers in an awkward middle ground where neither viewpoint is fully developed.

Ultimately, Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story is a lost opportunity. It takes a case that’s ripe for a dramatic re-telling and drags it out too much, resulting in a show that feels too long and devoid of emotional weight. The slow pace and inconsistent storytelling make it a difficult read, and while the acting and cinematography are commendable, they’re not enough to justify watching nine long episodes.

For fans of true crime, there are far better shows and documentaries that cover the same material in a more concise and compelling way. And for those who appreciated Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, this second season is likely to be a disappointment. Ultimately, the series just isn’t good enough to be worth the time investment, leaving viewers feeling more repulsed than entertained.