Based on real events and tragedies, The Iron Claw (2023) follows the lives and deaths of the beloved Texas wrestling dynasty, the Von Erichs. Written and directed by Von Erich superfan Sean Durkin, the film was nearly a decade in the making. Durkin began researching as early as 2015 and crafted an elaborate timeline beginning with Fritz Von Erich, the invented persona of wrestler Jack Barton Adkisson. The character was conceived as a villain to enrage audiences, and with Jack’s athleticism combined with the evil antics of his alter ego, Fritz Von Erich became a wrestling household name. The film traces events up to Kevin Von Erich, ultimately outliving all of his brothers. Durkin’s goal was to shape a Greek-tragedy–style narrative around Kevin’s perseverance, telling Off Screen Central that he focused on “Kevin’s story, and Kevin’s survival … how he breaks the curse.”

A Family Plagued By Tragedy

The legend of the ‘Von Erich Curse’ was built over the years, beginning with the death of Fritz and Doris Adkisson’s first born, Jack Jr. According to interviews done by Dark Side Of The Ring, it is told that at the age of six, Jack Jr. was coming home from school one winter day and must have touched one of the trailer’s exposed electrics. He was shocked, falling face-first into the snow and drowning in a freak accident. While this is never gone into detail in the film, it is common knowledge to Von Erich fans and those who watch wrestling documentaries. Four more of the Adkisson sons would go on to pass away, each loss compounding the mythos of “The Curse.” David Von Erich would be the next to pass. He died in 1984 while on tour in Japan. The official cause was acute enteritis, a form of sepsis, though rumors of drug use swirled in the wrestling press and tabloids.

Mike Von Erich struggled after a shoulder surgery gave him an infection that turned into toxic shock syndrome. The resulting high fever caused brain swelling that left him in a coma. Though he eventually woke, those closest to him said he was never quite the same. He suffered mood swings, rage episodes, including attacking a parked car and later a telephone pole, and some family members quietly feared he had sustained lasting brain damage, though it was never confirmed. In 1987, at just 23 years old, Mike died by suicide. Unfortunately, he would be followed by his brother Chris in 1991 (omitted from the film), and Kerry in 1993. As of today, Kevin is living in Hawaii. He purchased a large parcel of land where he, his wife, four children, and thirteen grandchildren all live together. According to interviews, Kevin says he is at peace with his life. 

What The Film Gets Right

The film is shot beautifully, with sweeping camera movements and carefully composed frames that capture the grandeur and pageantry of professional wrestling at the height of its popularity. The cinematography highlights not just the size, the blinding lights, roaring fans, and grandiosity, but also the emotional toll behind the curtain. Rapid, energetic cuts reflect the fast-paced rise of stardom, while slower, more isolating shots depict the crushing loneliness of being famous on a global scale. Durkin does well in recreating real-life moments, like the brothers swimming and fishing together, and conversations like the final phone call from Kerry to Kevin. The pressure of stardom bears down hardest on Kerry, played with heartbreaking depth by Jeremy Allen White. He brings soul and sadness to Kerry’s private battles — from addiction to the unimaginable strain of performing in secret with a prosthetic foot after a horrific motorcycle accident, the family kept hidden from the world. White portrays him as a man trapped inside a lie, burdened by fame and his father’s impossible expectations, yet emotionally abandoned.

The hotel room scene between Kerry and Kevin is one of the film’s most devastating moments. Kerry calls his brother, sobbing that he doesn’t want to live anymore. A real phone call that took place, both actors deliver gut-wrenching performances, Kerry’s despair is palpable, and Kevin’s panic is raw and real. Zac Efron, as Kevin, pleads with him, his voice trembling as he says, “You can’t kill yourself; you can’t do that to me.”