Javier Bardem & Chloë Sevigny React to Erik Menendez's 'Monsters' Criticism (Exclusive)

09/27/2024 12:51 PM

Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny are stepping into the shoes of José and Kitty Menendez in "Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story."

"Extra" spoke with Javier and Chloë about the challenges of portraying real people — particularly when the public has a lot of opinions about them.

Javier commented that it was important to "be as accurate as possible in shaping that character," despite not having "much audio or video material to look at."

Chloë added, "As actors, we had to paint different people's ideas of these characters so that we weren't playing one, one truth of a person, so it was a challenging acting exercise… I think a lot of people have opinions about these people, and they're very passionate about the crime in the story and what allegedly happened to the boys, so we have to consider the weight of all of that and of all people's already preconceived ideas of these people and the crimes… You're really, you know, taking on a lot more than just, like, an acting role."

Erik Menendez criticized the series, calling it inaccurate.

Javier reacted to the criticism, saying, "I think it's absolutely legitimate for him to express and have an opinion, of course. I totally respect that… and support whatever he wants to think about it because it's his life." 

"That being said, the show doesn't want to show one truth," Javier emphasized. "The show has to show different views depending on who's telling the story, based on research and facts and opinions… It doesn't have anything to do with a statement, and this is what it was because nobody knows except those two boys —no, two old men — and those parents who are not here to say anything."

Chloë shared her two cents, saying, "I think Erik and Lyle and the family have a right to say, you know, their opinion, obviously, and to vocalize it and make as many statements as they want to make. I know that Netflix has a documentary coming out where they tell their side of the story, so I think it's admirable of Netflix to give them that platform."

In 1996, the Menendez brothers were convicted of the 1989 murders of their parents and were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.