Through triumphs and misfortunes, the Von Erich name is known to be one of the most successful and influential families in professional wrestling history, but at what cost? Whether you’re a fan of the sport or not, the new biopic entails an incredible story of brotherhood, love and despair.
“The Iron Claw” is based on the true story of the Von Erich family, an iconic wrestling dynasty that rose to prominence in the Texas professional wrestling scene during the 1970s and 1980s.
The film focuses on four of the Von Erich sons, Kevin, Kerry, David and Mike, led by patriarch Fritz Von Erich.
Although the family’s surname is Adkisson, the last name “Von Erich” was chosen by father Fritz Von Erich to be the ring name during his professional wrestling career. The name “Iron Claw” originates from their father’s signature move he used during his matches.
The movie opens in black and white as Fritz Von Erich uses his signature move to take down his opponent in a grueling 1950s wrestling match. We learn in the beginning that the Von Erich family struggled financially, as Fritz Von Erich strived to be great in the wrestling world not only for his legacy but to support his wife and children.
The four brothers are played by Zac Efron (Kevin), Jeremy Allen White (Kerry), Harris Dickinson (David), and Stanley Simons (Mike).
Conversely, the film purposely leaves out one of the six brothers, Chris Von Erich, for the narrative to be kept “ tight”, according to Director Sean Durkin. The eldest brother of the Von Erich family is also mentioned briefly in the film as he passed away as a child.
The film revolves around the concept of the Von Erich “curse,” stemming from historical generational tragedies within the father’s family lineage. As the movie progresses, various series of unfortunate events occur, revealing the profound impact of this generational “curse” on the family name, though they continue to strive for success in the wrestling business through their faith in God.
Fritz Von Erich is depicted as a stern father in the film. He instilled them to follow in his footsteps in the world of professional wrestling and carry on the Von Erich legacy. The movie focuses on moments where the father demanded excellence for his sons through rigorous training, with the ultimate goal of at least one of his sons winning the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) World Championship, a title that Fritz never won in his career.
In the movie, it shows Kerry, David and Mike partake in alcohol and drugs to combat the physical pain they endured from wrestling.
The film tends to skim through some of the family’s most significant tragedies with minimal context, contributing to the focus of the oldest brother, Kevin Von Erich’s perspective.
“The Iron Claw” exemplifies Kevin Von Erich to be the quintessential glue of the family. As time progresses, a noticeable shift in Kevin Von Erich’s attitude towards his passion for the sport of wrestling occurs, reflecting the impact adversity has on the Von Erich family.
The choreography in “The Iron Claw” brought the Von Erichs’ wrestling performances to life, ultimately making it as realistic as possible to the trio’s tag team matches.
The director’s choice of visuals in this movie is praiseworthy. From the selected vintage looks in costume design to the array of television effects and soundtrack choices, the overall cinematography and set design did a successful job of capturing an ambiance of the 1980s.
Also, the film’s visuals extends to the portrayal of the Von Erich brothers’ physical features, with the actors wearing wigs that authentically represented each character’s unique hairstyle, adding another depth to the movie’s incredible attention to detail.
Durkin’s appreciation for the world of professional wrestling and his respect for The Von Erichs is transparent in the film. The story focuses on the determination and adversity the brothers faced on their journey to greatness.
Watching the film, It is also apparent that actors Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White underwent a significant physical transformation to adequately personify the Von Erichs.
In an interview, White explained the grueling process of having to constantly eat and train, gaining 40 pounds of muscle to play the role of Kerry.
The casting for the “Iron Claw” phenomenally replicated the love and generosity the Von Erich brothers’ had for each other.
Although questions arose regarding the casting of White to play Kerry Von Erich given their significant physical disparities, White’s wrestling performance ultimately proved to be a commendable and convincing portrayal.
“The Iron Claw” is a melodramatic film that truly encapsulates the heartfelt meaning of love and family, serving as a reminder to appreciate those closest to you.
I echo Jeremy Allen White’s recommendation to see the film “blind” without any research of the Von Erich family beforehand to see their story in its purest form.
The movie is out in theaters, rated R.
