The Menendez Brothers

As I've said in other reviews, Netflix has become the place to go when you want a top-shelf documentary that doesn’t try to sway your thoughts about a topic. This story is tragic, but Netflix doesn’t lean into the underlying horror of why these boys did what they did until we have been introduced to the people, understood the timeline, and been shown many other facts.

‍

There’s no doubt now that the 90s were gross, especially in California. I lived there then and remember this story. At that time, I believed the messaging that was coming from every radio station and evening news broadcast which said that the Menendez brothers killed their father for the money. They were ridiculed on late-night talk shows for the way they dressed at the trials and the way they cried when the real story was revealed on the witness stand.

‍

We learn, from the brothers themselves, in this excellent documentary that that isn’t even near to the truth - they didn’t kill their parents for the money. I won’t spoil the story for those who haven’t seen this or the series that Netflix created about this event (starring Javier Bardem as the father!), but my opinion is that their parents got what they deserved.

‍

It took three trials and seven years for the brothers to be found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. But, I think now after seeing some of the details of the trails (the second one especially) that that sentence is unjust.

‍

The way the judge behaved in the second trial was disgusting. He refused to allow the jury to hear critical evidence which would have created context for the crime and would most likely have allowed the sons to live some of their lives as free men.

‍

This story is tragic, upsetting, and uncomfortable, but this documentary is worth watching.

‍