Menendez: Blood Brothers (2017 TV Movie) User Reviews

This version is more in favor of the abuse excuse

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 25 July 2017]

This movie is an interesting contrast to the earlier 1994 movies "Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders" with Jill Clayburgh and "Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills" with Beverly dÁngelo. In the earlier versions seem to point more to the guilt of the brothers and that the abuse was fabricated. In this new 2017 movie it plays out like the abuse did happen and they lost the retrial because evidence of the abuse was not allowed. In this 2017 movie the background lead up to the murders and the shooting itself aren't as well handled. Things get better when the trial starts.

Courtney Love is the famous name in this version playing Kitty - not enough insights into her character as mother. The sons are played by Nico Tortorella and Myko Olivier who are a bit older looking and of course better looking than the real brothers.

Of course this horrific crime makes for a riveting watch on TV but it's worth watching the old versions to get a better picture whether you believe in the abuse excuse or not.

Interesting movie but age restriction is needed.....

[plbd-43062 · 6/10 · 26 June 2017]

It was interesting But..... I would recommend the viewing age should be set at 16yrs old!?! I don't feel young kids need to listen to some of the sexual details (not that there was that much) mentioned during the court proceedings!?! BTW, I'm a Canuck & am not that familiar with this situation then or now!?!

I think in today's courts, parents that sexually abuse their children (or others), that would be taken into serious consideration by judges & juries!?! I may be wrong for the US, but in Canada for sure!?!

((I hope none of this is a spoiler, but if the reviewers feel so, please delete the section as I do not check this site that often?!? Tnx/Regards..... pl))

Did Tom Hanks 'arrest them'?

[deem_bastille · 7/10 · 21 March 2018]

I swear to god I heard Tom Hank's voice (only) read them their Miranda Rights.

This TV version relied heavily on "Eric Menendez's dream sequences" but I saw this as a nightmare version

[Ed-Shullivan · 4/10 · 19 February 2018]

Lifetime films can sometimes be good but this one was a real stinker. The entire film relied on the younger brothers' Eric Menendez dreams in the form of flashbacks to tell a one sided version of what may have caused Eric and his older brother Lyle Menendez to kill both of their parents with multiple rounds from two (2) shotguns.

In this TV version of the murders of Kitty and Jose Menendez, the younger son Eric continually dreams that he is speaking with his dead mother while trying to figure out why his mother allowed his father to continually sexually abuse him, and he is torn between his guilt for aiding his brother Lyle in murdering their parents in cold blood, and his undying love for his dead parents.

After watching this version of the film one can only come to the conclusion that Eric and Lyle Menendez murdered their parents to end years of sexual abuse by both of their parents. The court documents are factual and the brothers first trial ended in a mistrial. The second trial the judge restricted both the evidence and the witnesses that could be presented which was Eric's lawyers entire defense and as a result both brothers were sentenced to life sentences without a chance for parole.

This certainly was an abbreviated version of the two trials and one would also think that the brothers were railroaded and that no one believed in their sexual abuse defense. Nothing could be further from the truth. The prosecutors proved beyond a shadow of any doubt that Eric and Lyle planned the murders (purchasing their shotguns weeks in advance using a friends stolen ID card without his prior knowledge) and tried to hide their sloppy crime of pure greed for their parents wealth.

This version was far too much "dream sequence" and simply just ignored the magnitude of facts for fictional dream sequences that painted a distinct visual picture of sexual abuse which purportedly justified the murders. If you want to see a better version(s) of the film see either the 1994 version Menendez: A Killing In Beverly Hills, and/or the 2017 eight (8) part mini series titled: Law & Order True Crime.

Skip It.

[rmax304823 · 2/10 · 27 September 2017]

Interesting case -- the two young Menendez brothers murder their mom and dad with shotguns, inherit dad's estate, quit college, and go on a spending spree with all the cash and none of the brains of successful murderers.

Yes, a spectacular case, rendered immediately forgettable by the usual Lifetime Movie elements -- low budget, poor acting, and melodrama resembling soap opera.

There's a far better made-for-television movie, "Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills." Watch that instead because this really sucks.

Brilliant!

[jonathona · 10/10 · 14 June 2017]

Loved this film so much. The writing and directing were truly powerful. I was both entertained and educated, this film brought a depth of perspective about the murder that was truly enlightening. It's the best TV movie I've ever seen. And Courtney Love and Myko Olivier were exceptional actors. Bravo Lifetime!

VERY inaccurate and Terrible acting

[kaleapratt · 2/10 · 23 November 2021]

This movie is horribly inaccurate, has bad acting and feels very rushed. This has a lot of misinformation they would add things or not include important things they said. They also had horrible interpretation of the characters. They made the parents seem nicer than they were. They also made it seem like the mom was just being treated horribly and like she was so kind to them. They even made Lyle seem like a bad guy who initiated the murder and for no reason. Erik was also made out to be this amazing person who did nothing, I love and support the brothers but Erik did play his part in killing the parents and everything after that and they tend to just blame Lyle in this movie. I would not recommend wasting your time. If you want to learn about the case it's on YouTube.

I could have watched 4 more hours! Superb!

[jenniferoselia · 10/10 · 21 June 2017]

This is an excellent film w seamless writing, directing & acting work that allows for the viewer to become engrossed in the story and life of these boys in this situation. What is so compelling about this film is that it makes you question whether justice was served or denied. It introduces an element of doubt. If this trial were today, would the outcome have been different? This angle, perspective of the story, is original. Personally, I left feeling that these young men deserve another trial, which I know is not possible under our justice system. The film examines possible abuse that could have provoked such a situation, which, albeit, is horrific- but through the vision of writer Abdi Nazemian and Directors Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, we are offered the option of asking why. The acting, particularly Myko Olivier is very strong. He is the real deal and carries the film's heart. Nazemian pens nuanced, honest dialogue combined with heart, sincerity and emotion. Bailey and Barbato examine a case that we might have viewed one way and have now, successfully gotten us to consider another option. Not to mention the beautiful shots, symbolism and parallels BTW the brothers and their parents and the art of capturing LA so well. And then we are blessed with Courtney Love. You can feel her struggle and pain. Love is a great actress & we need to see more of her. Film is beyond entertaining!

Make me over, I'm all I want to be

[BandSAboutMovies · 4/10 · 28 December 2021]

World of Wonder Productions, founded in 1991 by filmmakers Randy Barbato and Fenton Baile - who both directed this movie - got their start managing RuPaul and producing RuPaul's Drag Race, as well as Inside Deep Throat, Party Monster, The Eyes of Tammy Faye and, well, whatever this is.

Because sure, you may know the story of Lyle and Eric Menendez. You may have seen movies about them. But have you seen Courtney Love - yes, Hole frontwoman Courtney Love - play Kitty, their mother?

No, you have not.

Their father Jose Menendez worked at both LIVE Home Entertainment and Carolco Pictures - and who may allegedly have been the Menudo manager who abused Rikcy Martin - and supposedly pushed the boys hard. And maybe he also allegedly did things to them as well. But man, 1996 was their year. It was everywhere - not just tabloids and Inside Edition either.

So when you have a plastic surgery fabulous Courtney saying things like, "I can't believe Lucille Ball died. I really did love Lucy," well you've got me front and center for your movie.

Also, as you can imagine, her character dies pretty early on in the story. What you may not guess is that Courtney then plays a ghost for the resy of the movie, which is something that I endorse beyond endorsement.

Why were we not told that Courtney Love is in a Lifetime movie? This feels like the kind of information that people would get excited about. Why did it take me nearly three years to find this movie when I should have been having a premiere party complete with cupcakes, festive dips and a signature cocktail?

The movie is horrible when Courtney isn't it, but you knew that. I just wish that the Italian exploitation industry was still around, because she'd be awesome in a remake of So Sweet...So Perverse.

Left more to be desired.

[umastyles · 3/10 · 12 June 2017]

I was disappointed with this version of the movie as it was very cheesy. Courtney Love's character as the spirit of the murdered mom popping up to speak with her sons was so unnecessary. The made for TV series from 1994 is 100% way better: Menendez: A Killing in Beverly Hills with Edward James Olmos and Beverly D'Angelo.

The "abuse" was a cynical lie

[WVfilmfem · 1/10 · 7 July 2019]

...by two spoiled brats who wanted their parents' money. I don't believe for a minute that the boys were sexually abused by their father, and for them to use this as a defense in murdering both parents was a tragic miscarriage of justice. I lost all respect for Leslie Abrams for using this defense.

5-Star Story

[xeniaonatopp · 10/10 · 21 June 2017]

Menendez: Blood Brothers is brilliant. I was obsessed with this case growing up. I love that this story gave us something to ponder, what if they were telling the truth? It raises so many questions.

The acting is stellar. Courtney Love is great but Myko Olivier is outstanding in his role as Erik.

Great script and incredible directing.

seek it out on iTunes.

How am I one of only the few who thought this was terrible?????

[debbz619 · 1/10 · 6 July 2017]

OK. Please allow me to start of with a bit of a preface. I was very excited to see this. When all of the actual events happened was just a pre-teen. I remember seeing it mentioned on the news and parodied on the sketch comedy shows. For years i actually believed there were two more brothers. I thought the 2 pairs just swapped out whilst in court. I blurred the fiction with the available "reality".

So now that that's out of the way. As an adult i had begun to think about many of the odd things i accepted as truth from television. Of course one of those stories was the Menendez case. I had watched some videos on YouTube. But for the most part i was waiting for the big Netflix documentary. Instead we were handed a Lifetime movie. Not that all lifetime movies are bad. Just that the quality is mostly still lacking. But I was still excited and hopeful for the much anticipated airing of the Menendez Bros. movie. My wife was also anticipatory and anxious. Problem there is we work opposing shifts. anyhoooooo..........

After way too much waiting. My wife and i penciled in a time to sit down light some candles and share in the much awaited & limited commercial interruption.......... The movie starts and immediately i realize the acting talent was hired for looks and not actual ability. i grab an adult coloring book and begin to try to distract myself from the crap on my television. Yet over the course of those 2 hours i kept looking back at the screen. looking back in awe at the total lack of writing and acting talent that went into this so-called movie.

Hell maybe that's whats the producers were shooting for. something so bad people will watch just to see how bad it can be . But then again most of the reviews on here are saying its a 5 star movie. whatever.

Barlow

Interesting...

[bronzesrv · 8/10 · 8 March 2021]

I thought the movie was well done, great acting, especially for actors that are not too well known. It tells the story from an "alleged sexual victim's" point of view. All these years later people are still debating if the boys were abused or not, I guess we will really never know. But this movie made me again wonder what if, the Beverly Hills version about 20 years back told the story from the parents & their friends/ families point of view, this one tells the story from the "brothers" point of view, certain scenes like Eric on the floor vomiting, having flashbacks of his father hurting him, him confiding in his brother that the abuse is still happening, his brother saying we'll make it where he can't hurt us again, there's a powerful saying where Lyle confronts their father about the abuse and saying it has to stop. It really makes you wonder if these things happened. It's a very sensitive subject matter, so of course if you are easily triggered you should skip this film. Being a victim of child abuse myself, I always try to look at it from both sides and not judge. Unfortunately I know what it's like to not be believed, until others are hurt.