This TV movie about the Menendez murders is not as well-acted as the other version released the same year, "Menendez: A Killing In Beverly Hills" but presents a few of the basic details of the case more accurately. James Farentino does very well in the role of Jose Menendez but the other actors don't come off as well. The film does however, give the viewer more than pause to consider what might have happened that led to the killing of Jose and Kitty Menendez by their two sons, Lyle and Erik. It was based on a book by two LA Times reporters who definitely favored the prosecution.
There is one scene that is disturbing in retrospect, when Jose is trying to persuade his son Erik into a sexual act with him and when the son refuses he gets slapped, comforted and told, "get back on the bed". Not graphic, but still chilling.
There is one scene that is disturbing in retrospect, when Jose is trying to persuade his son Erik into a sexual act with him and when the son refuses he gets slapped, comforted and told, "get back on the bed". Not graphic, but still chilling.