Cooper Koch thinks he was humble to play Erik Mentez – even though it took almost a decade for it to happen. Years before the last part of Netflix “Monster” Anthology Series, the actor had unsuccessfully reviewed for the same role in two previous TV resale: NBC’s “Law & Order: True Crime” And Lifetimes “Menendez: Blood Brothers”, both released in 2017. He felt compassion for Erik and his brother, Lyle, so when he heard about “monsters”, he was determined to land the part.
“I got another chance to be part of telling his story,” Koch said. “Having it coming back, it was just Kismet. I was like,” Ok, this is my time to get this job. ”
“Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” Dramatizes the notorious Parricids from José and Kitty Menendez (Javier Bardem and Chloë Sevigny) and the media circus surrounding the murder attempt by Lyle and Erik, which resulted in a life sentence for the two in 1996. Of the many previous interpretations of this story, “Monster” are among the most controversial and bliss. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, the nine episode Limited series is based on the real case and the testimonies but also takes significant creative freedoms, presents different perspectives and leans in different speculative theories about the brothers’ motives and relationships (including the proposal that they had an incestuous romance).
Shortly after “Monsters” “September 2024 launch, the real Erik Mernendez criticized the series for his ‘dishonest portrayal’ and The family claimed It was “full of misters and directly falsehoods.” Murphy counteracted the criticismnotices it “faux upset” and says that “monster” should not be treated as fact. “The show really took a lot of people’s perceptions, perspectives and stories and put them together for everyone to see,” Koch said. “The point was to show what the media can do with the smallest amount of information and how it can go sideways.”
Koch, who appeared in Peacock’s Blumhouse Horror movie “DE/DE” 2022 knew he went into “monster” that it “would be a big deal.” He had seen the success of the first part, as Evan Peters earned an Emmy nomination in 2023 For his depiction of serial murder Jeffrey Dahmer. As he prepared to play Erik, he worked through all the moral dilemma he felt to produce a doomed murder. (The actor met Erik in October last year in a prison in San Diego, after the show had started to flow.)
“With any character, whether it is a real person or not, even if they are a contemptible, horrible person and they make terrible choices and they make terrible things, you still have to find a way to be their biggest defender,” Koch said. “I was always on Erik’s side, no matter what it was. Although there was something in the script that did not paint him in a light that I agreed or felt truthful, I would redirect it in my brain:” I am Erik in someone else’s mind. This is how I perceive him, so I will play it for this moment. “
Koch hangs on his hat on the series’ harrowing fifth episode, entitled “The Hurt Man.” Filmed for a single time without cuts, the 33-minute part-the shortest of the series-have a devastating conversation between Erik and his defense lawyer Leslie Abramson (Ari Graynor) when he graphically tells about the physical and sexual abuse that he endured in his hands on his parents. The camera stops at Erik, who goes through a wide range of emotions and creates a sense of raw intimacy. “When Ryan first told us about (the episode), I remember that I felt so excited and happy and grateful that I would have the opportunity to really remove Erik’s story and his truth,” Koch said.
Since 2023 the authors and actors’ strikes drove back the filming, Koch had an unusually quiet eight month period to sit with the script. He read it every day, printed every word by hand, listened to court bands and worked the dialogue with his actor. When it was time to film, Koch had already lived in Erik’s skin for months. Still, there were challenges. For two whole days he and Graynor remained anchored in the sparse interrogation room and shot eight versions of the stage.
“It was like, here we go. I will trust that I have done everything I can and hope that the pressure will not take over and destroy everything I have worked with to get to this point,” Koch said.
“And the first couple takes, it definitely did – by trying to get it right and that it would be perfect and then learn to release it.”
Since “Monsters”, public interest in the case of the Menendez brothers has grown. A campaign run by social media and the re -examination of allegations of sexual abuse by their father led to their punishment being reduced to 50 years to life. After 35 years in prison, they are now eligible for Parole. Koch has been a vocal ally all the time and supported the brothers when he participated in a negotiation in Van Nuys, California, April 11.
“The time for (the show), as it came out at this moment, gave (the case) the last drive of everyone to be like,” No, we really need to take a look at this because there is a really sad, dark story here that can potentially heal many people’s trauma, especially the brothers “and the whole family,” Koch said. “If I had something to do with it, I just feel happy and grateful to be a part of it.”
This story first ran in the limited series & TV filmer edition of Thewrap’s Awards Magazine.
Read more from the question of limited series and TV films here.
