The Iron Claw is a remarkable movie and should definitely be nominated for many awards this coming season. It follows the lives and careers of one of the most famous wrestling families to set foot in the business; The Von Erichs.
If you been a fan of wrestling, then you are probably familiar with this family and how they were regarded as wrestling gods in their home state of Texas, thanks to the patriarch of the family, Fritz Von Erich.
Fritz, who was wrestler turned promoter in Texas, started the legacy that his sons David, Kerry, Michael, and Kevin would be a part of. They would be very successful in wrestling, but with success comes turmoil and downfall.
The film tells the story from the perspective of the only living brother Kevin, played by Zac Efron and it not only shows how their father handled them and the business during that time but it also displays the lack of empathy and other emotions that ultimately became the family’s downfall or what we fans call it “The Von Erich Family Curse.”
The movie starts with Kevin and David, played by Harris Dickinson, being the local hometown heroes in their dad’s promotion World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW). Throughout the film we are later introduced Kerry Von Erich played by Jeremy Allen White, and the youngest brother Michael, played by Stanley Simons. As we all know the brothers were very close and they practically did everything together, so it was sad to see how the deaths were depicted in the film, although, we knew that it was a part of their story.
What was the most sad and hurtful was the fact that the family lacked empathy and was taught that whatever happens they have to put the family business first. Throughout the movie, Fritz showed that he loves his sons depending on what they did to make him proud at that moment. Fritz and the boys’ mother, Doris, never dealt with the issues that their family faced head on.
Because of the lack of empathy, not knowing how to deal with real life issues outside of the wrestling ring, and not being emotionally connected as they displayed on screen, would ultimately cost them their lives and careers.
As it was mentioned earlier, Kevin Von Erich is the only surviving brother. The first death was his oldest brother, Jack Jr. who passed away when he was five. The next was David who passed away in Japan from a ruptured intestine in 1984. A few years later, the youngest Michael would die by suicide after recovering from a shoulder injury. His death was caused because he felt the burden of his family wanting to make him the “new David.” Although he wasn’t mentioned in the film, Chris Von Erich also died by suicide, two years later Kerry took his own life by shooting himself with the gun that he gifted his father for Christmas.
Through all of the tragedy that his family has faced, Kevin Von Erich was able to find ways with coping with his emotions and pour that energy into his raising his children and being around his grandchildren and being married to his wife for over 40 years.
The Iron Claw is an eye-opener on how not coping and dealing with your emotions and mental problems can ultimately be your downfall.
