Iron Claw: The Tragic Story of the Von Erich Family Hits Theaters
The iconic Von Erich family, famous in the wrestling world for their incredible talent and tumultuous history, is the focus of a new A24 drama, “The Iron Claw.” The film tells the true story of the Von Erich brothers, Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike, who dominated the professional wrestling scene in the early 1980s. However, one brother, Chris Von Erich, was noticeably absent from the film, sparking questions and controversy.
In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, filmmaker Sean Durkin explained the decision to leave Chris out of the film. Chris, who wrestled but struggled to achieve the same success as his brothers due to health issues, unfortunately died by suicide at the young age of 21 in 1991. Durkin stated that including Chris in the film would have added another layer of tragedy to an already heartbreaking story and may have prevented the film from being made at all.
The Von Erich family has been plagued by a series of tragedies, often referred to as the “Von Erich curse.” David passed away suddenly in 1984 at the age of 25, while both Mike and Kerry died by suicide in 1987 and 1993 respectively. “The Iron Claw” focuses on these tragic events through the eyes of Kevin, the only surviving Von Erich brother.
Durkin revealed that Chris was included in the script for five years, and the decision to remove him was a difficult one that he struggled with for some time. Additionally, Durkin chose not to consult Kevin, the sole surviving brother, until the script was completed, emphasizing the challenge of portraying a real-life family’s experiences on the screen.
“The Iron Claw” presents a powerful and emotional look at the Von Erich family’s journey and is currently captivating audiences in theaters. Despite the tough choices made in the production of the film, it stands as a poignant and representative exploration of the Von Erich dynasty’s immense success and devastating losses.