Top 10 Darkest Moments From Monsters The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix

The elder Menéndez brother, after having been arrested for the deaths of his parents, tearfully confesses to a childhood of unfathomable abuse. In one particularly painful moment, Lyle expresses disgust and regret at his own actions, especially with regard to how he claims to have treated his brother Erik. Lyle recalls a particular instance in which he confronted his father, José, and demanded that the latter put an end to Erik’s abuse. While Lyle initially seems to have the upper hand, José flips the encounter by, as Lyle interprets it, threatening his sons’ lives.

It’s well-known by this point that Erik Menéndez was an aspiring tennis champion, showing a remarkable aptitude for it and even, at times, competing on a professional level. José Menéndez exploits this in multiple ways, not only putting grinding levels of pressure on both of his sons to excel, but using it as an opportunity to subject Erik to further abuse. In this scene, José, in his domineering, condescending way, forces his younger son to endure a foot massage — during which Erik turns the tables on his father by informing him that he intends to become an actor. José doesn’t take kindly to being disobeyed, and nefariously forces his son upstairs.

While the first season of “Monster” stuck pretty closely to the horror genre, the second delves more into crime drama territory. That’s no more apparent than in this scene from the season’s second episode, in which Erik’s old friend Craig Cignarelli is recruited by local police in hopes of securing a confession to Kitty and José’s slaying. In a moment that feels like it’s straight out of “The Sopranos,” Craig attempts to goad Erik into confessing to him again, using the excuse of dusting off their joint screenplay “Friends.” Unfortunately for the authorities, Erik doesn’t bite, but not before he puts the fright of a lifetime into Craig.

A running theme throughout “Monsters” is the unreliability of memory, and that, no matter who’s telling the story at hand, the viewer should take their statements with a grain of salt. This is no less true than when Lyle is asked to recount the final day that he and his brother Erik spent with their parents. As noted earlier in the show, part of the argument that makes up the brothers’ defense is the fear that their father José would take drastic measures if they came forward about their abuse. In Lyle’s recounting, the two are stopped by Kitty and José — before being brutally executed by them. Leslie Abramson, Erik’s lawyer, quickly notes that this isn’t what occurred in reality.

It was honestly difficult to decide between this bone-chilling scene, or the one immediately before it, in which José’s fear of STDs results in Kitty inspecting Eric for them. Ultimately, we had to go with the moment, in which Kitty uncharacteristically attempts to openly communicate with José. While it’s clear that, as seen in the rest of the show, Kitty wouldn’t dare to betray or defy her husband, this scene depicts her mustering up the courage to take a stand against José’s abuse. Of course, José, ever the master manipulator, turns the tables on Kitty, gaslighting her once again and demonstrating that twisted, deceitful behavior comes naturally to him.

The source of the Menéndez family’s seemingly vast wealth, José Menéndez (as played by Javier Bardem) frequently contrasts his difficult upbringing with that of his sons, whom he considers to be spoiled, lazy, and entitled. The elder Menéndez, as described by Erik and Lyle, denies that his abuse of them is in any way related to sexuality — instead, he compares it to Greco-Roman “bonding.” In one scene, Menéndez is seen closing a deal to sign Puerto Rican boy band Menudo to RCA Records. In the next, José celebrates by hiring a young male escort, donning winged headgear that evokes the aforementioned Greco-Romans. The tense, chilling scene gives the audience a disturbing look into what it is that makes José Menéndez tick.

If you didn’t think things had gotten real up to this point, chances are they started to sink in. Following a series of scenes in which the viewer is given glimpses of José Menéndez’s verbal and emotional abuse of his son Lyle, “Kill Or Be Killed” goes all-in on the allegations that formed a substantial part of the Menéndez brothers’ defense. One of the most stomach-churning scenes in a series full of them, hearing about the alleged abuse that Lyle suffered cuts right to the bone, in so small part thanks to up-and-comer Nicholas Chavez’s captivating, intensely lived-in performance.

Lyle Menéndez’s testimony is hard to take, even if viewers are familiar with the details of his alleged abuse at the hands of his parents, but particularly his father, José. What makes Lyle’s time on the stand even more difficult to watch, though, is seeing his confident, braggadocious facade melt away. Once again, Nicholas Chavez shines as Lyle’s over-the-top persona begins to crack, revealing the depraved depths of the behavior that José exposed him to. We can’t help but feel sympathy for Lyle, particularly because of his climactic, tearful apology to brother Erik. Admittedly, some may feel differently about this scene, especially given the nature of Lyle’s correspondences with his so-called “friend,” Norma Novelli.

How long did it take you to realize that this episode was going to be executed as a single, jaw-dropping take, showcasing the mighty acting talents of Cooper Koch and Ari Graynor? In any case, it’s inarguable that this creative choice produced one of the best television episodes of 2024. Over 40 harrowing minutes, Leslie Abramson peels back the layers of Erik Menéndez’s years of hurt and trauma. “The Hurt Man” speaks to the show’s larger themes in raw, heartbreaking fashion, contrasting the public’s hunger for sordid details with the anguish of the real-life figures at the heart of the case.

The inciting incident that sets the series’ wheels into motion, you might not be shocked to find this act of extreme violence atop our list. The scene in which the Menéndez brothers take their parents’ lives, as written by “Monsters” showrunners Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, and expertly directed by Carl Franklin, is at once both gripping and appalling. The filmmakers depict the events of August 20th, 1989 so brutally and so viscerally that you almost can’t believe Netflix let them get away with it. The fallout of the brothers’ infamous crime set the stage for the rest of “Monsters” — and cast a dark shadow over the nascent ‘90s.

Which “Monsters” moment shocked you the most? Let us know in the comments below!