The Iron Claw: Inside Von Erich Family's 'Curse' and Wrestling Legacy

ET looks back at the Von Erich's 'curse' and how 'The Iron Claw' portrays the professional wrestling family's infamous backstory, including the deaths of five of their six sons within just a few decades. The biopic is seen through the eyes of Zac Efron as he portrays Kevin Von Erich, the only surviving son and brother from the wrestling dynasty, who explained to ET what he hopes audiences take away from his family's story. In archival interviews, Kevin and the family's patriarch, Fritz Von Erich, opened up to ET on the day after Kerry Von Erich died by suicide on Feb. 18, 1993. Director Sean Durkin, Efron and Jeremy Allen White, who plays Kerry, opened up about wanting to make Kevin proud with their portrayal of his family's many tragedies on screen. 'The Iron Claw' is in theaters now.

[@roberttaylor2096]

Growing up as a small kid I idolized these guys. They were fantastic. Seeing the movie brought tears to this old man’s eyes. If you watched them growing up and you plan on seeing this.. bring the tissue. 😢 They were simply the greatest wrestlers of all time. R.I.P. Brothers. ❤

[@ItsAVolcano]

The final scene with Kerry is almost certainly based on the dreams Kerry would occasionally mention to his fellow wrestlers in the WWF, talking about how he could hear his brothers calling for him to join them. Bret Hart even mentioned in an interview managing to (temporarily) stop Kerry by emphasizing that his children still needed him.

[@marshalberger4250]

Kerry had a run with the Intercontinental championship all with 1 foot it’s amazing just to be able to keep the secret let alone be able to preform. Think of the things that man had to keep to himself. Modern day warrior

[@TheTalk23]

Zac deserves an oscar nomination and the man who plays fritz deserves one as well.

[@AlphachadEpicCollector]

But they won’t get a nomination. The film is too small in scope, doubtful Oscar voters will even see it.

[@__-wm9lu]

The Fritz actor was really really terrible

[@reviewbomb85]

@@AlphachadEpicCollectorsmall movies get tons of award noms.

[@AlphachadEpicCollector]

@@reviewbomb85 But this one won’t.

[@Skulllywag]

He should get an award for being a midget playing a guy 6'2". I found it quite funny that the two main actors were shorter than almost anyone else in the movie, yet the people they were playing, in real life were well above 6'. At least they picked a tall actor to play David, who in real life was, depending on who you believe...somewhere between 6'5" and 6'8" tall.

[@anchmcle]

I practically ran to the theater on day one. I was not dissapointed.

[@capsortee]

you do know they left out one of the brothers from the story right? They said it would of been TOO sad for YOU to handle

[@anchmcle]

@@capsortee yup, it was 't right. In general the story was true, not so much with facts. Still it was a good movie.

[@anthonycampos8057]

Stone Cold Steve Austin said the Von Erichs were a big inspiration for him wanting to become a professional wrestler.

[@NadineMiller1974]

Looking forward to this. My Grandparents lived down the road from the VonErich's in Lake Dallas Texas and my 2 Uncles went to school with the boys.

[@SakAttack87]

Saw it the day after Christmas. Thought it was awesome!

[@MackEastwood23]

Seeing the actors and director doing the iron claw pose with Kevin is just epic 👌

[@bhillis99]

I watched this and had a lump in my throat almost the whole movie.

[@adearmom]

Thank you Zac Effron for taking this roll and making it magic. Kevin's story needed to be told. I watched this family in the 80s and always knew he was dealing with so much grief. I thank Kevin's lovely wife for being the strength he needed to get him through the hard times he was facing. God bless you all. Know you are still loved and remembered with honor.❤❤

[@nm33209]

Can’t wait to watch this as a wrestling fan I’m pumped

[@connieguzman8721]

I have been a lifelong fan. My favorite was Kevin. I used to go see them all the time at the Sportatorium. It's no longer there, but when I'm in the area, the Von Erichs and the Iron Claw is what comes to mind as well as other wrestlers like Kabuki, Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin and Sunshine, etc. those were the fun times.

[@billblaski9523]

I heard Stone Cold got his start in Dallas, in the tail-end of WCCW

[@dominysynclair]

Kev was my favorite too, with the acrobatics and all...

[@censorshipsucks9493]

@@billblaski9523 Fact check true. Also his first wife was the ex of WCCW wrestler, and Von Erich nemesis Chris Adams.

[@censorshipsucks9493]

One Man Gang, Fabulous Freebirds, Missing Link, Iceman King Parsons, Dingo Warrior.....good times.

[@lonnieking4466]

I use to love watching the von Erichs they was was just great so sad 😢 what happened to all of them God Bless them 🙏 and I hope they are at peace and know they was truly Loveed Gone but not forgotten by this laid-back country man Lonnie ❤

[@steveN111333]

6:44 "This is the way it is now"...... Holy shit that's heart breaking 💔

[@damonrouzerjr6895]

A Tru future award winning movie . As a wrestling fan I love that we Finally have a Recognized movie about Pro Wrestling telling the truth

[@tubbymontana7090]

Wow fitting as ET covered the Von Eric’s back then too

[@mrbgladney71]

Eas"T"exas Respect 2 Kevin Kerry David Chris & Mr Fritz 4 Always Keepin Us Entertained Watched Alot Of This Family From The Good 'Ole Days I Once Seen Them Put "the Claw" On Some1 Till Their Forehead Temples Bleed From Then On I Knew That Was A Cold Ass Move ...So As A Kid I Used It On My Friends..Continued Success 2 the VON ERICH Family & Rest N Peace 2 All the Von Erich's 'Gon On 2 Glory...

[@carlawest4637]

Super excited to see this movie

[@marvinguzman924]

I really enjoyed the final scene, the portrayal of the brothers gathering in the afterlife, centered around a peaceful scenery. I would love to think that’s what death is like. ❤

[@JohnArnis]

Just saw the movie, sad but such great storytelling. Honestly I grew up in Chicago in the 60’s and 70’s and watched wrestling but with local wrestlers, like the Bruiser, the Crusher, Verne Gagne, and Baron Von Raschke, who incidentally also was famous for the “Iron Claw”, to name a few, but never knew about the Von Erich Family until this movie. My interest in the entire wrestling scene overall waned after the early 70’s so that’s probably the main reason why I was never acquainted with the Von Erich’s. I really like the show’s excellent casting though in relation to the real life family members, right on the money. Especially the screen father who looks eerily very closely identical to the actual father he portrays.

[@peanut983]

I can’t imagine being in Kevin’s shoes. But seeing so much death happen so fast one after the other in a two hour timeframe… holy shit. That ending had me in absolute tears

[@shoWbitz]

It's 'Pro Wrestling', Cena.. Not 'Sports Entertainment'

[@MrBeavis84]

@shoWBitz it drives me crazy whenever Cena or any other WWE wrestler says it, I absolutely despise the phrase "sports entertainment". I agree with you, it's Pro-wrestling.

[@TheTalk23]

John is used to saying that. It's become a force of habit at this point.

[@littletom1978]

exactly, noone outside of them calls it that, noone says, im a fan of sports entertainment or my favorite sports entertainer is so and so, its a vince made up phrase decades ago, for reasons he did it, no executive today says, lets meet with wwe, you know, the sports entertainment company...but we are so beyond using it, everything is entertainment, its wrestling, get the F out, i mean, over it already...your company name is world WRESTLING entertainment, so then why not call it wrestling entertainment, cause unless you have no idea whos winning, youre not a sport, you are entertainment yes....WRESTLING entertainment, wwe has long ago redifined the word wrestling so embrace it already, it just makes eyerolls when people hear it

[@slao05]

Yeah, Cena says that mainly because he was a product of the overly emphasized 'Sports Entertainment' era of the late 2000s, as coined by Vinny Mac.

[@FlexWheeler2nd]

I haven't watched the movie yet, but growing up a wrestling fan in the 80s and 90s, I knew about everything they went through. Kevin (on DSOTR) said he doesn't blame his Dad. His Mom did though. Speaking as a son who always strived to live up to my Dad's expectations, I'm not surprised he doesn't. But the family name and reputation (created by Fritz) I'm sure was just way too heavy to live under.

[@80srocknroller]

Can't wait to see it

[@Eliezeraugust0]

I was surprised with Zac Effron and holt mccallany acting. This movie almost made me cry

[@stephenwood2145]

Cannot wait

[@johnscilleto]

I love Holt McCallany. He's incredibly underrated. I saw this boxing show with him in it and they cancelled after one season I was so pissed it was a great show

[@angelablack7946]

I was not familiar with this family before seeing it. This was one of the toughest movies I’ve ever seen.

[@PaulBodyBuilder]

Great opening scene in the Trailer. Says it all

[@kathleenweinberg5991]

Looks like a great movie

[@michaelmurphy2612]

Just seems like a really good guy and that’s saying something with the amount of loss he’s had.

[@OliviaBanks-mp7eb]

This was a great movie. God bless Kevin and his family.

[@angelariscica1649]

It’s great that this family is being recognized!! Huge fan of the VonErichs !! World Class Championship wrestling the best !! VonErichs vs Freebirds .. 😊 Kerry won the NWA against Ric flair ) Kevin vs Chris Adam wow so many memories with these guys!! And I got to see my beloved Kerry wrestle against The money man Ted DiBiase.. upstate Ny ) can’t wait to see the Iron Claw .. ❤❤❤

[@capsortee]

what about Lacey Von Erich?

[@angelariscica1649]

@@capsortee what about her ???

[@wwm2022]

Fantastic movie

[@Boxing31]

People can hate on Zach but he was amazing. Holt also played his role tremendously. I NEVER watch movies because typically they’re trash. This was an epic movie with every emotion you can think of. Well done.

[@rj5822]

Incredible movie

[@henrylokks89]

Loved the movie

[@jamesroetsjr.4835]

When I was little kid I watch The Von Erichs they would fantastic in wrestling Ring but I was very sad most brothers gone but not forgotten👍👍

[@pleaseshutup7053]

You are very lucky I wish I was able to see them weekly

[@johndelena_plus1goofballs]

Kerry lost it all when Chris ended his journey. He spiraled. Drugs, divorce, lost his job at WWF. You cannot tell the story of Kerry without Chris. This was a movie of 6 brothers, and was told as a story of 5. The small Chris 5'4 that thought he was a runt, is still being treated as so.

[@magicolmos]

Luckily this is mostly a story about Kevin

[@billblaski9523]

Yeah I was bummed Chris wasn't in it, they basically combined Chris and Mike into Mike.

[@inconvenientfacts6452]

The modern day warrior Kerry Von Erich was 6ft 2 270lbs solid muscle. Here, a 5ft 7 150lbs guy plays him. Unbelievable

[@varga4488]

It’s a movie bruh doesn’t have to be exactly accurate plus they literally left one brother out

[@inconvenientfacts6452]

@@varga4488 the old it's a movie bruh comment. Next time, let's just have Jonah Hill and be done with it

[@rogueprince1341]

Ive got to go see this movie. It looks so damn good.

[@censorshipsucks9493]

I finally got to see this today. I grew up watching the Von Erichs, and knew the outcome. I still cried.

[@jenhodges92]

Great movie! The 80s in Texas! Best time and place to be alive. This movie brought back great memories.

[@philrm99]

Great movie.

[@hamadhumaid1984]

It's an interesting movie, I'll watch it when it comes to my city Dubai, UAE. If this movie talks about one of the greatest wrestling families, the 2009 WWE Hall of Famers The Von Erichs, this is gonna be good

[@brianonrea]

The Iron Claw was such a good movie

[@Angus-Johnson-8334]

I really wish they could have split this into 2 or 3 movies or a miniseries and included Chris Von Erich, he didn’t even get a mention at the end which I thought was ridiculous.

[@seankim884]

Does It Reminds Me Of Foxcatcher To Nacho Libre?

[@michaelvaldez5095]

Chris Adam’s the inventor of the super kick

[@moshindig222]

Lets talk about how there was an LA Knight character using a Dusty Rhodes impression and they called it Ric flair

[@mikewatson5254]

I loved watching the von Eric growing up however, Jackie, the oldest did not die from drowning, he died from the electric shock which caused him to drown

[@billblaski9523]

Soo he did from drowning then? Cus possibly he could have recovered from getting electrocuted, but him landing face first in puddle of water is what killed him

[@mikewatson5254]

@@billblaski9523 the narrator said he died from drowning.. that’s not the whole truth he died from electric shock from The water which caused him to drown if he didn’t have the electric shock he wouldn’t have drown the electric shock was the cause . Still a tragedy nonetheless

[@billblaski9523]

@mikewatson5254 uh what? Lol but yes a tragedy nonetheless, wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy

[@missytucker5202]

Even after all Kerry had gone through (I dont understand why he shot himself /This had to be so tragic for Kevin /Being the only Vonerich brother left on earth .It must of been and still has to be so devastating for Kevin / He cant talk to his brothers anymore /And im sure he has questions of why any of them did what they did /What is so bad about your life that you have to go to the extent of committing suicide . What a sad tragedy /Because he still remembers ,he feels the pain and sorrow of the loss /But tries to remain strong /What else can he do 🏋️

[@shanellescott6777]

R.I.P

[@fredlandry6170]

So sad.

[@Mruuuuuuuu9]

❤

[@jasonbourne4127]

💪🙏🏼

[@therecreationalguru7323]

I love that John cena was at the premier, allegedly. Legends showing respect and love to past legends. I love it

[@NinoBlanco400]

The man with the Iron chin!

[@mesa4592]

Kevin reminds me of “Lirch” from the Addams Family

[@johnconnor4040]

Tough and Texas!!

[@RosieHWeinstein-vl1nm]

Wow that's painful babe 😘😭💔

[@user-nv9ss8rx7v]

The funny part is I don't think any of the actors (brothers) were born yet.

[@johnnegrete9329]

Sad the dad caused all the tragedies. A few of the sons reached out to him right before they died, he did nothing. All he cared about was wrassling, nothing else. He knew David was sick before leaving for Asia but didnt believe in canellations.$$. Kevin is blind and fooled to say his dad was a great man

[@OmarGbits]

Totally agree. The dad was obsessed with the championship because he didn’t get it. He put HIS dreams on his kids. The mas was a narcissist and controlled them to the end. All was his fault and never cared for them.

[@williamroper5422]

​@@OmarGbitsThe last sentence is too far and unfair.

[@bloodandguts88]

Zac looks more like kerry than the other guy

[@BangerBrandon]

Great movie btw

[@floridaphil611]

I saw Kerry in Utica NY signing autographs 1991, got a picture of him holding my son 6 at the time...Hes a big dude..Saw the movie, shouldve had Zac play Kerry not Kevin..

[@bricemarchant9410]

Am I the only one who thinks they got the casting mixed up for Zach and Jeremy..?

[@indiglo1971]

5:40 He's dead, too.

[@williammoore1980]

David died from an OD. Daddy and the other wrestlers covered it up.

[@DugEphresh]

This dude makes EVIL seem normal, just sickening!

[@raysullya.k.amassholehead817]

Even in Death, Chris gets shunned.. He always felt like the inferior/invisible brother and look what They did, it goes to show even how he felt b4 killing No part in the movie. He wasn't even in the family picture... He wS 100% right about how thise fell....l .😅

[@davidblank420]

The real curse of the family was a man, named Fritz.

[@williammoore1980]

Fritz was the dictionary definition of a dictator stage parent. And the mother was indifferent at best, if not also being of the same ilk.

[@user-me8uf2nr5q]

Why not tell about Chris. Tell the whole story.

[@josephmckenzie6493]

Not including Chris is silly and fucking disrespectful

[@MrPada1641]

Casting for Kerry was off .kerry von was the biggest member in the family physically.In the movie Zac effron is way bigger than

[@AlphachadEpicCollector]

Good film. Too much of Kevin/Efron, should’ve been more an ensemble. Doubtful it will make a dent come awards season, but oh well!

[@indiglo1971]

Well, Zac is the biggest star of the movie. I think the attention was on him because is viewed as the survivor.

[@AlphachadEpicCollector]

@@indiglo1971 Doesn’t make it the right narrative device, though.

[@iamlinda100]

@@AlphachadEpicCollector I think being the only surviving Von Erich brother, is a valid reason to have the story be told from Kevin's perspective, and it's the right narrative, because he IS the survivor.

[@mrmurphy8609]

The actors are to short and pretty small compared to the real ones

[@harrygreb3457]

Every actor is short

[@user-tu9nk6ep8i]

He college students wrestling's backyard wrestling woken

[@ConservativeCanadian57]

Pisses me off Chris was excluded and Chris was merged with Mike. That’s completely inexcusable to omit a brother, totally disrespectful to Chris’ memory and to the name of the Von Erichs/Adkissons. I know it was time constraints they couldn’t include Chris, but this story would be better suited as a miniseries instead of a film.

[@pleaseshutup7053]

It ain’t that serious

[@Now_To_Infinity]

Everything in this world is spiritual and you need the blood of Jesus for protection 🩸✝️

[@KaleChip793]

😂it’s weird to ask “what’s it like celebrating this with your whole family?” When the man is at a premiere for a movie where it shows a lot of his family died and he’s basically the only survivor. “Your WHOLE FAMILY “ she could have just asked “what’s it like being here” 😂 smh

[@davidblank420]

He does have his own family tho....

[@williamroper5422]

She obviously meant his current living family. Some people look for any excuse to get butt hurt.

[@pleaseshutup7053]

He has a wife and kids and a bunch of grandkids

[@lydiamartine812]

GASTON MPIANA MOKOLO NINI OKOKOMA IBRAHIM TRAORÉ ?? KAKA MALANDA NGULU YA ASSASSIN G. NGOBILA KIN LA POUBELLE ABOMA 485 CONGOLAIS NA YUMBI ....ATANDELE TOKO RÉCUPÈRE BINO ....YO NA NGOBILA NANI MUKOLO ? OKOMA ATALAKU YA G. NGOBILA . QUEL FLATTERIE...

[@Jeffro5564]

wtf? Bot piss off

[@Stoogewriter]

Huh?

[@backabeyond]

That director is full of crap. He didn't give Chris any attention, because Chris wasn't as popular. I think its pretty disrespectful to omit one of them.

[@iamlinda100]

The director said that the reason they omitted Chris was because the story was already very tragic with so many deaths, adding Chris story would've been too much tragedy for the audience and the movie might not have been made. He said they did include Chris in the original draft of the script, but then ultimately decided to cut Chris out in the final script. But I agree with you, Chris should have been included in the movie, it's very disrespectful that he wasn't. The director basically combined Chris' story with Mike's in the movie.

[@scottdonjordan30]

Loved this film. But the casting of ric flair was terrible

[@christiansoldier77]

Iron Claw ? They couldn't come up with a better name ? LOL 😅

[@williamroper5422]

You couldn't

[@christiansoldier77]

@@williamroper5422 Von Erich . Done lol 😆

[@AlphachadEpicCollector]

Disliked!

[@martam8395]

High school musical with plastic surgery in his jaws and bottox and fillers

[@unfairsanic5089]

Who cares?

[@davidblank420]

His jaws like that because of a really bad accident.

[@adamoxen]

​@@davidblank420I thought his jaws are like that because of HGH🤷

[@davidblank420]

@@adamoxen No, that's The Rock/Rogan

[@user-nd5ud7bh3j]

Trash...... they did the story no justice and actually ruined it for most fans. This was a joke of a movie.

[@indiglo1971]

Hater! Go watch Plan 9 From Outer Space.