The cast of “Monsters” defend the Netflix show and it could lead to a new trial for Menendez

When the controversy is over Monsters: The Story of Erik and Lyle Menendez and the portrayal of the two young men who killed their parents in 1989 has become a back and forth between the show's producer and the people and family members portrayed in the series. Several cast members have stepped up to defend the hit Netflix show, explaining the shift in perspective that led Erik Menendez to call it “obvious lies” behind bars.

Speaking at a press meeting in New York last week were Cooper Koch (Erik Menendez), Nicholas Alexander Chavez (Lyle Menendez), Nathan Lane (reporter Dominick Dunne) and Ari Graynor (lawyer Leslie Abramson). The Hollywood Reporter and gave their perspective on the back-and-forth that has arisen after Erik Menendez's wife released a letter from prison condemning how Erik and Lyle in particular are portrayed in the true-crime drama. Both men are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole for the double murder of their parents; As dramatized in the series, their defense at their joint trial involved revealing that they were victims of years of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of father José and mother Kitty Menendez.

Star producer Ryan Murphy takes certain liberties with the brothers' behavior and actions in his show – Lyle is shown doing cocaine, hard facts are changed and, most controversially, the assumption is made that the two brothers are secretly were lovers. The script suggests that most of this is due to the far-reaching theories of Dominick Dunne (portrayed by Nathan Lane) as he covered the trial Vanity Fair. But that may not have fully resonated with audiences; Several viewers have complained online about an unfair and misrepresentation of the imprisoned brothers, who are currently awaiting a habeas corpus hearing and a possible reduction in their sentence after new evidence emerged in their case just last year.

“I wanted Erik's perspective to be consistent throughout, even though I was representing other people's perspectives,” Koch said THR. “I wanted Erik to always be compassionate and always feel like a victim, even if he did something terrible. And I never wanted to discredit what he had done, but I wanted people to understand that he was a victim of all of this.”

The “Rashomon approach” that Murphy said was applied to the Menendez story in his series – referencing Akira Kurosawa's classic rotating perspective film – was a “really smart” decision, Koch said. as it reflected how so many viewed a case. As for the uproar over incest references, the show's star suggests an important reading of a scene to clarify the script's intent.

“I think people are taking it a little bit out of context, and I understand how they feel,” he said. “A lot of people care about these people, especially me. I'm a big supporter of Menendez, and so I think when people see it from his perspective and they don't necessarily see it as the truth of the situation. In the scene after Dominick Dunne explains all these theories in the castle, there is a cut behind him where all of his friends that he told the stories to have disappeared and the lights go out. And the candles are still burning – which to me shows that the people he's telling this to are like, “Come on, Dominick, what are you saying?” I hope people can understand that this is to show that no one thinks it is, that’s a crazy theory.”

On the subject of Menendez's angry letter denouncing the series, veteran actor Lane, whose Dunne is so central to the many complaints fans and supporters of the brothers have expressed about the series, said: “He has a right to his Opinion.” I think if he had been the producer, he could have said, “Well, that didn't happen, or that happened, and that's my point of view.” But I think that in this series you definitely do “You get a lot of different points of view, and you have to remind people that it’s a dramatization, not a documentary.”

Lane added that for the brothers, the saying “no press is bad press” may be relevant right now.

“There were TV movies about her. There were many documentaries. Another documentary is coming to Netflix next month. Honestly, I don't think that's a bad thing for them. People are talking about the case in a way they never have before, and I think that could well lead to another trial. The reaction is understandable. But I think it’s unfair because I think the show is extremely well written and beautifully acted.”

Chavez, whose portrayal of Lyle Menendez in his brother's letter was a major point of contention, said he could empathize with the anger.

“I understand that it must be incredibly difficult to tell the most traumatic moment of your life in a format that the whole world can see,” he said, but defended the show's intention to show the crime and its aftermath from different perspectives the view.

“I think it's really interesting that the show chose to tell this story from so many different perspectives… it's a truthful way to tell the story, right? Because reality seems to be a combination of facts and the lens through which it is viewed. So reality can change depending on who you ask.”

Graynor, who said she researched her role extensively to portray the enigmatic and sensitive Abramson, displayed the latter trait when discussing the topic.

“My heart goes out to them and how they must feel, how hard this must be, and I hope they realize that,” she said. “What I think. And there is new evidence. It’s time to reconsider.”

Monsters: The Story of Erik and Lyle Menendez is now streaming on Netflix.