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Netflix's The Menendez Brothers premiered on the heels of the second season of the Monster series, which focused on the infamous murders of José and Kitty Menendez. While Monster reignited public interest in this old case, Alejandro Hartmann's new film has made a bigger impact on viewers by featuring fresh insights directly from the brothers, Lyle and Erik Menendez.
At present, the Menendez brothers are serving life sentences for the murder of their parents. Although the crime occurred over 30 years ago, new revelations have sparked public sympathy for the brothers' cause. In The Menendez Brothers, Lyle and Erik share their side of the story, interwoven with compelling interviews from family, lawyers, journalists, and others.
Cinephiles who have already finished binging on The Menendez Brothers should check out the notable documentary films on this list that are well-researched and worth watching.
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Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
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8 documentaries like The Menendez Brothers that explore astonishing cases that sound too strange to be real
1) Brother's Keeper (1992)
While watching The Menendez Brothers, viewers will realize that there is a lot of uncertainty about what really caused Lyle and Erik Menendez to kill their parents. Likewise, in this documentary film by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, it is hard to tell what actually happened on the day of the murder.
The film focuses on the Ward brothers, Roscoe, Lyman George, William Jay, and Adelbert Daniel, who lived together in Munnsville, New York. When William was found dead one morning, his brother Adelbert Daniel, aka Delbert, was accused of killing him. Brother's Keeper explores motives, possibilities of coercion, and the naivety of simple-minded folk who find the "city-folk" overwhelming.
Even though this documentary has won several awards, it still remains an underrated gem that many cinephiles haven't heard about.
Where to watch: Brother's Keeper is available for streaming on Apple TV+.
2) The House of Suh (2010)
Lyle and Erik revealed in The Menendez Brothers that the Menendez family seemed perfect from afar, but there were a lot of underlying secrets that people didn't know about. This film by Iris Shim also brings forth a shocking murder case that isn't what it seems on the surface.
The case in question is the murder of Robert O'Dubaine, a bar owner, who was shot by Andrew Suh. Robert was dating Catherine, Andrew's sister, at the time. The film seeks to showcase the circumstances that led Andrew to pull the trigger and the part Catherine played in it.
In addition to exploring the complex dynamics within the Suh family, the documentary delves into the impact cultural pressures can have on young minds.
Where to watch: Fans of the genre can watch The House of Suh on Prime Video.
3) The Fear of 13 (2015)
Both The Menendez Brothers and Monster have made some viewers feel like there are a lot of gray areas in the Menendez case. Several people have even shared online that the sentencing should be reconsidered in light of recent revelations. David Sington's film, The Fear of 13 showcases a similar case wherein the justice system failed to unearth the real truth.
Nick Yarris was sentenced to capital punishment for the 1981 kidnapping, r*pe, and murder. After spending many years on death row, he was found innocent and consequently released in 2004. Like Lyle and Erik Menendez, Yarris tells his story in his own words, which includes his experiences before and after he was arrested.
As the emotional film consistently focuses on Yarris himself, it allows viewers to feel immersed in his journey and also relate to his suffering.
Where to watch: The Fear of 13 is available on Apple TV+.
4) Killing for Love (2016)
When the news of the Menendez murders first hit the headlines, no one even thought to point fingers at Lyle and Erik. The investigation into the distressing case covered in this documentary film by Marcus Vetter with Karin Steinberger also led to two unlikely suspects.
The case involved Nancy Astor Benedict Haysom and Derek William Reginald Haysom, who were murdered in their home. Their bodies weren't discovered for many days. Once the investigation was underway, the police were shocked to find that their daughter, Elizabeth Haysom, and her boyfriend, Jens Söring, were the culprits.
Like the case of the Menendez brothers, this trail also generated much interest among people, as they were curious to find out what exactly happened on the night of the gruesome crime. Both Elizabeth and Jens try to put the blame on each other and provide compelling arguments to justify their case. It is an interesting watch that leaves the viewer uncertain about where the real blame lies.
Where to watch: Killing for Love can be streamed on Prime Video.
5) Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017)
The Menendez Brothers brings up a lot of questions about abuse and its consequences. This eye-opening documentary film by Erin Lee Carr also puts the spotlight on a murder case that was the result of years of abuse.
Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard was found murdered in June 2015 at her house. Police linked the homicide to her daughter Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and her boyfriend, Nicholas Godejohn. During the investigation, it was revealed that Dee Dee had abused her daughter and convinced people that Gypsy suffered from many critical illnesses for financial gain.
Hearing what Lyle and Erik have to say in The Menendez Brothers makes viewers think deeply about the long-lasting impact of abuse, and the same tends to happen after hearing about Gypsy's ordeals in Mommy Dead and Dearest.
Where to watch: This disturbing and emotional documentary film can be viewed on HBO and Max.
6) Rosa Peral's Tapes (2023)
As The Menendez Brothers featured real audio interviews with Lyle and Erik, the film felt more compelling as compared to the show. It also appealed to viewers who wanted to hear the story directly from the source. Similarly, Rosa Peral's Tapes by Carles Vidal Novellas, Manuel Pérez Cáceres, and Carlos Agulló also presented a first-hand perspective from the accused.
This Spanish documentary film focuses on the murder of Pedro Rodriguez which was committed in Barcelona back in 2017. Rosa Peral, who was Pedro's partner at the time, was accused of murdering him with the help of her ex-lover, Albert Lopez.
Like Lyle and Erik in The Menendez Brothers, Peral decided to tell her own story through video interviews from prison. In her own words, Peral describes how the prosecution had used call lists and personal messages to portray her as a characterless woman capable of committing murder. It is a riveting watch that would make viewers have second thoughts about the fairness of the trial.
Where to watch: Rosa Peral's Tapes is available for streaming on Netflix.
7) Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso (2023)
During the initial trial, the Menendez brothers came off as arrogant and detached in the courtroom, which made people believe that they were capable of murdering their parents for inheritance. Something similar happened to Jessica Kumala Wongso, whose trial is featured in this documentary film by Rob Sixsmith.
Wongso was the prime suspect in the 2016 murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin. It was alleged that Salihin died of cyanide poisoning, which occurred in Olivier Cafe, where she was meeting Wongso. Like with the Menendez brothers, the media as well as the prosecution were not very kind to Wongso, portraying her as cold and disturbed, which made people believe that she deserved what she got.
This well-researched film addresses how the case still has many loose ends that need to be looked at. It also helps viewers from around the world understand how the Indonesian criminal justice system works.
Where to watch: Fans of the genre can find Ice Cold on Netflix.
8) What Jennifer Did (2024)
The case of the Menendez brothers makes it clear that nothing is always the way it seems when it comes to murder, and this engaging film certainly adheres to that fact. What Jennifer Did by Jenny Popplewell covers the attempted murder of Hann Pann and the death of Bich Pan, which was orchestrated by their own daughter, Jennifer Pan.
The film covers everything from how Jennifer called 911 to tell the police that her parents had been shot in a home invasion to the subsequent police investigation that revealed it was all part of Jennifer's elaborate plan.
The actual footage of Jennifer's interviews makes this film really interesting to watch. Viewers get a peek into her psyche and her motives and also understand the tactics used by the police to find out the truth. Even people who have heard about the case can benefit from watching this film, as it divulges lesser-known facts, just like The Menendez Brothers.
Where to watch: What Jennifer Did can be streamed on Netflix.
Documentary film fans who found The Menendez Brothers fascinating to watch should check out these well-made titles that involve shocking cases and intriguing investigations.
