Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is the latest true crime dramatisation to land on Netflix in 2024 - and arguably one of the best.

The series bring to grisly life one of the most fascinating and complex murder cases of recent years.

In 1989, brothers Lyle and Erik killed their parents in a bloody ambush. The why and the how is, like any crime, what fascinates and it's what makes the subject of this series so compelling.

Here's everything you need to know about Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix, including the true story behind it, the number of episodes, and the cast.

Is Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story based on a true story?

Following the massive success of Monster: Dahmer, Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan's true-crime anthology series returns.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the true story of the brothers who schemed to murder both their parents, José and Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.

In 1996, they were convicted for the murders. However, the court case wasn't clear cut.

While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed - and remain adamant to this day - that their actions came after years of abuse.

They claimed their parents had subjected them to a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse...

Many people believe Lyle and Erik were victims themselves. The Netflix true crime dramatisation asks: Who were the real monsters here?

What did Lyle and Erik Menendez do?

Brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, Cuban-born José, and his wife Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez.

On the evening of August 20, 1989, José and Kitty were murdered in their Beverly Hills mansion. Lyle and Erik shot José six times, including a fatal shot to the back of the head. They then shot mum Kitty 10 times in total.

The murders took the media by storm in the late '80s and early '90s due to a number of reasons. Firstly, Lyle and Erik Menendez were only 21 and 18 at the time their parents were killed.

The young men eventually confessed to killing their parents. But they claimed it was in self-defence after years of sexual abuse from their "paedophile" father.

In a confession to psychologist Jerome Oziel, Erik and Lyle claimed to have killed their parents in self-defence after "a lifetime of abuse".

Why did Erik and Lyle kill their parents?

Erik and Lyle claimed they committed the murders out of fear that their father would kill them after they threatened to expose him for years of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse.

However, the prosecution argued that they did it to inherit their father's multimillion-dollar estate.

Where are Erik and Lyle Menandez now?

In 1990, Erik and Lyle Menendez were tried together and found guilty and sentenced to life without parole. They are currently in the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Southern California.

Lyle is now 56, and his little brother Erik is 53. They are not expected to ever be released.

When will Monsters series 2 stream on Netflix? How many episodes?

Season 2 of Ryan Murphy's Monster series will stream from Thursday, September 19, 2024.

Like Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, each episode is expected to be one hour long in a 10 episode series.

Who is in the cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix?

The cast of Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story has some pretty heavy-hitters.

Not least, Spanish actor Javier Bardem (aka Mr Penelope Cruz), who plays Erik and Lyle's dad José Menendez.

Film fans will know Javier for playing notorious Bond villain Silva in Skyfall. Possibly one of our favourite Bond baddies of all time. He's also known for No Country for Old Men, Dune, and Being the Ricardos.

Chloë Sevigny portrays Erik and Lyle's mum Mary Louise 'Kitty' Menendez. The actress is known for films such as Bones And All, and Queen & Slim. She's also been in TV series including American Horror Story, Big Love, and Bloodline.

Nicholas Chavez portrays Lyle Menendez, the eldest brother. He previously played Spencer Cassadine in the medical drama General Hospital. This is arguably his biggest role to date.

Cooper Koch stars as Erik Menendez. Cooper previously played Chase in Power Book II: Ghost. He's also appeared in films, including They/Them, Swallowed, and Less Than Zero.

Of course viewers will know actor Nathan Lane, who plays journalist Dominick, for his roles in The Birdcage, and The Producers.

Meanwhile, Surface star Ari Graynor stars as defence attorney Leslie Abramson, and Studio 66's Leslie Grossman plays Judalon Smyth. Judalon was a former patient and mistress of Erik Menendez's therapist, Dr. Jerome Oziel, who found herself entangled in the Menendez case. She ultimately plays a key role in Lyle and Erik's arrests.

The Walking Dead's Dallas Roberts plays therapist Dr. Jerome Oziel, and The Handmaid's Tale's Jason Butler Harner stars as detective Les Zoeller

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story will stream on Netflix from Thursday, September 13, 2024.