The Real Reason Chris Von Erich Isn't In Iron Claw

One of the Von Erich brothers is quite simply missing from "The Iron Claw." Why isn't Chris Von Erich's story part of the film about the family?
#Missing #Wrestler #Reason
Voiceover By: Jacent Jackson
Read Full Article: www.wrestlinginc.com/1475204/...

[@B0bcat9]

Chris not being in the movie annoyed me. I understand it was a creative decision but trying to imagine if someone made a movie about my family and completely leaving out one of my siblings would be awful. I don't care if the runtime would have been longer Chris should have been in the movie.

[@higurashianduminekoconnect1702]

It's accredited decision in the head of the director but I also agree it just comes off as bad taste. I think it's the best wrestling movie ever made but it could have been better as good as it was. I want someone else to take a crack at it. I want someone to make a movie that's just as good that tells every brother and every story. All the reasonings of the director to me doesn't make much sense they could have made the movie longer. The director saying one more death would have been too dark not true true stories you should get more leeway. Also it's the story of his life it actually happened they're not doing any service to the human being who actually live that life it feels like a slap in the face of the actual human being. That being said it was a good movie.

[@sidhe3303]

I don't have siblings but if my parent's siblings were cut out, I'd be happy. Because they're honestly toxic people. However the glaring issue that you and so many wrestling fans don't understand is that Kevin was okay with the choice. If Kevin is fine with it, then so should we. And another thing is that most people going to the movies don't watch wrestling. I think what wrestling fans need to accept is that wrestling is not as big as it is in the UK and in Japan. Majority of movie goers don't want wrestling. I was standing waiting for the movie to open and was chit chatting with an older woman and she asked me if it was true that Kerry killed himself. I wasn't alive for most of it and when Kerry and Chris died, I wasn't allowed to watch wrestling when I lived with my grandmother in the 90's. I only saw what happened from Dark Side of the Ring, but I still liked the Iron Claw. Movies are supposed to entertain you. They did a good job of that. If I wanted accuracy I'd watch Dark Side of the Ring.

[@cuzzisaidso6220]

Agreed

[@extremedee7320]

Have to agree

[@fjccommish]

The movie is garbage.

[@TheNotbadphonedaddy]

I actually think Chris' story was the most tragic of the entire family.

[@awutusaiii]

Then I’m okay with it not being in the movie because it was already too devastating for me 😭😭😭😭😭

[@sampleoffers1978]

They could do a sequel where this film is suppressed etc metaphor, but generally you only cut entirely to make The Godfather, or pretty pop culture effort.

[@BeyondThisExistance]

It was...

[@TheMeanGreenGoblin]

I don't know, man. Mike's was pretty tragic.

[@PrinceDyspo]

​@@TheMeanGreenGoblin they're both tragic but for opposite reasons Mike never wanted to wrestle but Chris 100% did he was just physically unable to be a wrestler and that broke him. If anything it proves he should've been in the movie even more cuz of the opposites sides of the spectrum they were approaching the business from

[@GameTime-yj6qv]

Chris needed to be in the movie. Even if it was a minor role. I understand time constraints, but leaving him out is shameful and frankly insulting.

[@thomasgradwell4958]

i feel like if he was in it with a minor role it'd make sense. he wouldn't neeed much screen time and i think that would represent how it was in real life.

[@WesleyWilkins-qf2ky]

Seems lazy like most Hollywood movies these days

[@DmitriyK12]

A different director should have too on the movie; way to honor a family's legacy by tarnishing or simply removing a sibling !? 😮

[@DmitriyK12]

I meant helmed or taken on .

[@joenobody5913]

@@thomasgradwell4958 Sure and if it was just a minor role everyone would be bitching that it wasn't a bigger part. There's just no pleasing some people

[@gdm415]

Its BS that they cut Chris. Its a slap in the face to his memory that he isnt important enough to mentioned with his brothers

[@dwightyboy5324]

The saddest part is that in real life it's reasons like this is what ultimately lead to Chris' death

[@TNAROHfan]

@@dwightyboy5324 Absolutely. I am glad at least some people get it. Chris killed himself because he couldn't live up to the Von Erich "name", no matter how hard he tried. His tragedy highlights the dysfunction of that family and the wrestling business more than ANY of his brothers deaths and here...we all did it to him all over again as if we have learned nothing from it. Not to throw Kevin under the bus (because he has suffered enough), for being ok with leaving his brother out, but I know why he was ok with it. Everyone who has paid attention over the years, also already knows as well whether they are willing to say it or not. IMO, Kevin has never fully come to terms with how bad it really was or how much Frtiz really disregarded his sons for the Von Erich empire he was trying to create. That much is obvious from listening to Kevin talk over the years. That is how he deals with it and I won't judge him for that. That is meant as no disrespect to Kevin, I would not want to walk in his shoes, but it is what it is.

[@dwightyboy5324]

@@TNAROHfan if I'm being honest, I think the reason Kevin was fine with it was likely because he knew he probably wouldn't get another chance to see a Von Erich movie in his lifetime and probably figured this would be his only chance to have a movie about his family while he's still alive, which I understand. I doubt there were many directors coming up to him making movie pitches. And from listening to him talk about his dad, I don't think he understood just how bad Fritz really was at times.

[@TNAROHfan]

@@dwightyboy5324 Yeah. Everything sort of points to Fritz being kind of a monster who didn't even want to hear that his sons were spiraling out of control. Most of the people there almost always say, he'd just fire the messenger instead, being the cash cows the brothers were. Then when he decides he wants to get out with his money, he tells Jerry Jarrett (according to Jerry) that Kerry and Kevin were "dopeheads" and that Jerry was essentially stupid to go into business with them. So there is Kevin's version and basically everybody else's version of Fritz. I guess Kevin deals with it in his own way.

[@paulmolive1821]

@@TNAROHfanKevin deserves tons of respect and compassion, but he still carries a lot of water for Fritz and the family name.

[@Sangria]

Chris Von Erich's end is so tragic. It's a movie unto itself. RIP

[@TurdFurggison]

I think it really is a travesty that Chris wasn’t in this. If you’re going to do a Von Erich film, have the whole family in it. Even the oldest one who died at 5 was even in this and only 2 of the Von Erich’s were alive for him and probably didn't even remember him. What pissed me off was the family photo at the end where the sons are in the ring hugging their dad. Very sentimental, but without Chris in the photo it just seemed so hollow.

[@Yoni123]

He is in it because mikes character is whats called a composite character (of mike and chris). I trust Durkin knows better what makes more sense for a film than you. Chris was in the script for 5 years but ultimately had to be made into a composite to make the film better

[@mitchhedberg4415]

Just lazy and cheap

[@nevermindgaming6848]

​@@TamlaPearseyyou know nothing about the flim industry lil bro

[@StandWatie1862]

​ know about social engineering

[@basquat76]

The entire film could have been made from his perspective. He grows up idolizing his brothers and when he can't be like them he takes his own life. Of all the stories in there that might be the most tragic one. And the irony of him once again being left out is just terrible. The tragedy of all of them dying is the story. How they influenced each other to take that route. Leaving one out only weakens the story.

[@jasengriffin485]

Completely agree!!!!

[@ameliacarmella5006]

Beautifully said

[@nevermindgaming6848]

It would be too depressing plus the movie would be over 3 hours

[@basquat76]

@@nevermindgaming6848 Maybe don't watch a film about the Von Erichs if you are worried it'll be to depressing. Go watch some upbeat disney or something.

[@I-own-2-dogs-now92]

​@@basquat76FACTS go watch The Marvels 😂

[@johng.2321]

Chris deserved to be in the movie. I feel like they REALLY dropped the ball with casting and creative decisions.

[@BreakingImageFilms]

Especially with Flair. They should’ve had MJF play Flair

[@sheilapchase]

Chris didn't even score being in the pics with his family in this movie. Okay, Chris wasn't important enough to mention in the movie, but how can a movie-maker re-create an actual family pic and simply delete a family member. Goodness, at least leave Chris in the pic to give Chris some type of existence.

[@jaysosurreal]

They didn’t even include him in the real picture at the end, that was seriously fcked up like ok don’t put him in the movie but at least find a picture with him in it damn

[@sheilapchase]

@@jaysosurreal I agree. How can anyone completely erase Chris's existence from the family. I know that the video explained, but the explanation fails to work for me. Including Chris in, at least, the family pic would have cost little/nothing and would have allowed the film's audience a point of interest/curiosity that would (likely) have encouraged research. Chris deserved more.

[@MalissiaCreates]

Absolutely. In that case, it was just bad writing. If they weren’t going to write the movie from Chris’s perspective of looking up to his brothers and what it did to him, then at least give him a minor role of existence. It wouldn’t have been difficult at all to write that in and really wouldn’t have increased the run time having him be there with a line or two.

[@iambs11]

this video explains just that.....

[@bigbencher425]

I call bs on the whole idea of leaving Chris out. Very disrespectful imo.

[@vectorman7140]

I just saw this movie, and it was powerful overall, excellent pacing of the storytelling and casting. But the fact that Chris was excluded as if he never existed was just despicable. Because he's story was important given the fact as to why he took his own life not being able to aspire to be like his brothers and is in my opinion the most tragic of all the deaths in the Von Erich family.

[@tootieq6527]

The saddest part of Chris being omitted from the movie is that, in his heart he was more “Von Erich” than all of the brothers.

[@symbiotegod2069]

Put Chris in the directors cut simple. Director's cuts are usually longer and its strsight to dvd so no need to rush

[@basquat76]

This happened during the writing process so there's no scenes with Chris you can add to it.

[@Mr.Majestic77]

If it's going to be a biopic, the movie should tell the full story to include all the brothers.

[@ConservativeCanadian57]

Damn right!

[@jessecorona3076]

Yea! I agree

[@redshift912]

Nah

[@nevermindgaming6848]

​@@user-we3me3dg1yor don't watch it the movie was already 2 hours they cut shit from movies all the time i hope you're either 10 years old and don't know any better or a mentally handicapped person

[@acnixon]

And The Iron Claw isn't --- that's why it just says inspired by a true story.

[@stephenterranova8455]

I can't imagine how anyone who's had a sibling they loved could be ok with them just being erased from their story. Just came home from seeing the film without the foreknowledge that Chris' life and legacy would be ignored...it really ruined the experience for me.

[@baileyryan96]

I solely believe that "I told you to look out for him" line was intended for the real-life kevin. Everyone who knows the story knows that kevin regrets leaving his brother alone that night after chris promised him he wouldn't end his own life.

[@quesoblanco444]

It's crazy that when this story got it's first movie treatment, there was so much tragedy to put on the screen, they had to leave out one VonErich. Life is always more tragic than fiction.

[@jazc.2717]

to make a family with a tragic story....it seems awful to not include him

[@kevinblanchard1328]

At the very least, Chris' life and death should have been mentioned. The omission is disrespectful and compromises the film's accuracy.

[@jeffmcclure4047]

A scroll at the end with a simple explanation would have been fine.

[@cjmitchell881]

Or even at the beginning!@@jeffmcclure4047

[@djmurray9888]

I understand why, but it’s sad and feels like a disservice to the guy to make him the only brother non existent.

[@KWCline91]

Thinking more about this now, I would’ve understood the decision not to include Chris. One suicide in a movie is bad. Two suicides in a movie is unthinkable. Three would’ve pushed the bar to a very uncomfortable, shocking feeling. So I understand that part. But, if Chris had been in this movie, they should’ve had a scene where someone says Chris is gone and then cut to a quick shot of the memorial service for him. It’s another minute to the movie, which isn’t a lot.

[@TNAROHfan]

Exactly. You have to have SOMETHING! for Chris in a movie about the Von Erich legacy and their family during that time. It's dishonest and really terrible not to. I also understand being concerned with how tragic another death would have been, but that is the story of the Von Erich's.

[@sheilapchase]

@@TNAROHfan Tragedy, however, is the tilt to the other side from the family's greatness. I hate that the family experienced such tragedy. However, the movie-maker shows the family's greatness in a realistic sense (from what I hear). Why not show the tragedy in a realistic sense? Showing the family's greatness displays Fritz's strength, as well as the brothers. Showing all the tragedy displays Doris's strength, which is worth showing. Doris had to be a strong woman to lose every son, except one. Chris's life counted, and Chris's death counted. Acknowledge both.

[@RedKingdom28]

@@TNAROHfanin the same token if anyone loved this movie and looked more into it afterwards Chris will still get his recognition due to people’s curiosity of the family

[@nattydelights6381]

It would’ve felt rushed

[@higurashianduminekoconnect1702]

Makes me give it a one-star down despite the movie being good personally if I had known that I wouldn't have rated it 5 star movie. Personally, if I were Kevin Von Erich, I would be a little upset about them doing that. The movie was good. I'll give them that best wrestling movie I've ever seen. However, I think it was highly in bad taste that they did not include him. They didn't shy away from the suicides in the movie, so that's not the reason it was just purely a creative decision and it was in bad taste. I'm sorry, but I feel like his story Should Have Been told that's really not doing any service to him. At this point, I would like someone to already remake this movie with the same plot, but with his character included. Still think it was the best movie ever. I just think it wasn't good of the director not to include him, just my opinion.

[@MorallyReprehensible]

I enjoyed the film, but I think that it would have worked better as a multi episode limited series. The film already ran for over 2 hours, and with all that happened it is understandable that so many details are kept out due to time restrictions. Along with Chris's story I would have liked for their rivalry with the Freebirds to be touched upon more than it was.

[@nectarinedreams7208]

Oh, fuck off. Not everyting needs to be a generic series directed by some Netflix hack. 2001: A Space Odyssey told the story of man's inception to the next stage in human evolution. I think this movie can tell the story of the Von Erichs just fine, thanks very much.

[@Cyborg1101]

I totally agree 👍🏻

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

@MorallyReprehensible - Cinema is more accessible for those who don't want to pay for a whole streaming service monthly

[@wellthissucks112]

Damn - people really have a low tolerance to sitting in a theater for over 2 hrs huh? Only time I can understand anyone objecting to a 2 hr plus movie is for bathroom breaks. Otherwise, it’s probably a short attention span issue.

[@Kanoog]

YES! Let's use that logic with EVERY movie ever made, because obviously you can get in more details with a series. I think they should have made Avengers End Game into a series too, just image how much more we could have seen. In fact, I think theaters should be removed and everything needs to be a series.

[@BarekHalfhand]

I just saw the movie (Iron Claw) this afternoon... The actor that played Mike was quite good... You know it's a good actor when he can convey so much with saying so little.

[@BudokanPuroresu]

That is very true. His mannerisms said more than a monilogue could, and the short lines he had often cut deeper due to that. Great portrayal of Mike.

[@arturoalmazan5262]

he didn't look that much like Mike; but he did a great acting job of portraying Mike von erich

[@elbledal]

@@arturoalmazan5262i dont think none of them did lol zac look more like kerry than anything imo

[@arturoalmazan5262]

@elbledal yea that's true

[@tyty274]

I grew up on WCCW, the Von Erichs, Freebirds, Iceman King Parsons and so on. Iron Claw brought back sweet memories. Although the Von Erichs' consistent family tragedies were disturbing, Iron Claw is an amazing film!!! Much respect to Kevin and his boys carrying on the Von Erich legacy in AEW!!!

[@saytex210]

You said a mouthful on that one !!!!!

[@eliocannella9958]

We interviewed Kevin Von Erich in 2013 then Ross & Marshall in 2015.

[@Fmandan77]

It was clear when watching the film that Mike's character was a combination of both brothers, Mike and Chris. The fact that Kevin's most important desire for the film was to show the love he and his brothers had for each other - and how that was absolutely respected throughout the film is the most important thing. Many movies are made that do not get the blessing from surviving family and it's great to know this film got that blessing from Kevin. I would think that knowing your family's painful, yet incredible story is forever etched into history in a portrayal you approve of is very gratifying. I also think the film did a great job of allowing the viewer to decide for themselves what type of person Fritz Von Erich was and didn't glorify or demonize him - brilliant.

[@tikihuttqueen8201]

Chris deserved to walk with his brothers in the end. I mean they included Jack Jr and jack jr didnt even grow up in wrestling like chris did.

[@NatRants]

yea that scene really highlighted how wrong it was to leave Chris out of the story.

[@sherrydawson7715]

I'm pretty sure Netflix or Hulu will do a series following this film that will give more detail and that will absolutely include Chris Von Erich the same thing they did with Selena

[@Jeffro5564]

There already is a definitive doco on them. You must be new on Von Erich family hahahha

[@jmdubbs1354]

See Darkside of the Ring....

[@TBone2000Man]

Know need for it go watch dark side of the ring

[@TheJking85]

I hope so! Chris should have stayed in the movie IMHO.

[@sherrydawson7715]

@@Jeffro5564 no I'm not new to the Von Erich story a matter of fact when I was a little girl my grandfather used to take me to the sportatorium all the time I got the touch Kevin Von Erich I was so excited Sean Durkin had his reasons why he left Chris on Eric out of the movie my only point is maybe they'll do a docudrama mini-series like they did with Selena which had way more detail

[@Scorch1028]

There was no room for Chris Von Erich in this film. That’s very sad.

[@bamagalforever]

Okay, well... I'm sorry, but I thought the point of the movie was to tell the TRUE STORY of the Von Erich's. YES, what happened to all of them was sad, but it is real life. They should have stayed true to the real life tragedies of these young men. I seriously do not understand this. The whole "one death was [sad] enough." Well, it was real life and it happened. They should've told the whole story. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@terereynolds698]

I haven’t seen the movie yet, but if it’s supposed to be about the brothers they should have kept Chris in it. Chris was and is part of the family, he died, people like me, that saw them wrestle, are going to be saddened because even though he was the youngest and smallest, he still gave everything he had in the ring, and to not see him in the movie is just sad. With the exception of Kevyn death just seemed to follow this family.

[@round105]

The thing is that it's hard to keep the story for a full-length movie. The von erichs have such a history that it wouldn't fit in a movie. They had to cut it

[@Kanoog]

@@round105 YES! It's also their creative freedom to make a choice like that, this movie already had A LOT to focus on to keep it at a healthy lenght and not feel overwhelming. I'm so burned out on movies trying to squeeze in too much shit. Godzilla X King Kong had way too many stories in it, and it became this cluster fuck of ideas. Trying to recap that movie on the way home felt like a chore.

[@handsom3jam955]

I strongly felt like when they did research for this film they only spoke to people who knew the family professionally not personally.

[@rohegarcia2802]

Kevin was heavily involved with the movie and gave the ok when told about Chris not being in the movie.

[@handsom3jam955]

@@rohegarcia2802 he 100% gave his approval but he was very hands off for personal reasons. To say he was heavily involved is 100% false

[@higurashianduminekoconnect1702]

I felt as though the director meant well but taking out one of the Von Erichs was a bad decision and comes off as bad taste

[@anthonyhemphill7605]

I saw Kevin say that in a video

[@sampleoffers1978]

​@@rohegarcia2802Can't put it on family for ethical and artistic reasons. Family as subject dealt with humanely or you man up for art disservice. Audience has to contextualize main factors because each family member 's experience just compounds the subject. There's ways to artistically reference without subject confronting. Pov of film could have been the not portrayed brother.

[@joshm31594]

While watching the movie i was wondering where chris was. Then when the deaths started happening i was almost thankful he wasnt in the movie. I was just thinking i dont think the audience could handle another death. By the time kerrys death happened i was just tired of feeling sad and was feeling just like kevin on why does this keep happening.

[@CompanySincePresident]

Absolutely I just seen the movie today and it was enough. I think the fact that most ppl didn’t know there was an older brother that drowned as a kid they shed light on the brother lease talked about

[@ohmynester]

Nah the full story should have been told.

[@FireJach]

oh poor audience.... too much death poor audience. wtf is that excuse????

[@wellthissucks112]

@@FireJachexactly! I haven’t seen this movie yet and idk if it’s says based on a true story and I know the word “based” here can mean very loosely but, all the deaths were REAL and people should see all of that. It’s so weird how it’s like “no the audience can’t handle that” how they can’t handle reality because it’s too depressing. Sure some movies are an escape from reality absolutely. But this story just feels strange to not add in Chris. I think the story of the Von Erich family is powerful and should be told how it actually happened.

[@kidz4p509]

Chris’ absence from the movie is my only nitpick.

[@nostalgiaman6816]

What about Kerry’s kids and him being married not being in there?

[@TNAROHfan]

@@nostalgiaman6816 They should have included a snippet of that as well, but they were not Von Erich's. This movie portrayed itself as being about the Von Erich legacy.

[@MalissiaCreates]

I’m a writer, and I love writing about true stories and having to imagine details that can only be speculated on for continuity. They could’ve absolutely included Chris even in a minor role and that would have made it 90% authentic true story instead of having to embellish so much. This families true story is cinematic enough without having to falsify or completely omit anything. And runtime wouldn’t be a problem. If you’re a good writer, you can work it all in.

[@MrJayehawk]

There is certainly a logic to cutting down some aspects of a story in order to get a reasonable run-time for any movie, but cutting Chris out really does feel like a terrible disservice. The poor guy experienced the tragedy as much as the rest of them.

[@dellcargill5698]

So make it a 3 hr movie, tell the whole story

[@madisonrembert2024]

Exactly I don’t like ts at all it’s totally unfair

[@johndunn7321]

Pro Wrestling fans know how many Von Erich’s there were. Non wrestlings fans enjoy a movie ! God Bless the Von Erich’s

[@Mr.Majestic77]

Exactly. I will pass on this movie.

[@tangledline]

If they casted taller wrestlers for the Kevin and Kerry...Efron or Jeremy could have played Chris...heck even in the trailer.."Gordy" looks like a bulkier Chris. The way I see it...if you gonna say a story about the Von Erichs...include ALL the wrestlers because Chris was a factor with Davids death as well as his statute and injuries.

[@Rev.DavidJTowns]

Jeremy is closer to the size of Chris -- laughable that they chose him for Kerry!

[@TNAROHfan]

@@TamlaPearsey It was eerie for sure.

[@jaylucien669]

@@Rev.DavidJTowns Agreed it was distracting. Still, I enjoyed the movie overall.

[@nostalgiaman6816]

@@TamlaPearseyyep trying to lift weights. Trying to get big

[@TNAROHfan]

@@nostalgiaman6816 It almost broke my heart to be honest and that is not easily done. It was very surreal. Jeremy Allen White literally seems more like Chris than he does Kerry in looks and persona. I couldn't help but think...this is Chris. Kerry was the golden child, gifted and outgoing. Literally Godlike in Texas during the Von Erich's heyday. He came off more like quiet and troubled Chris.

[@Enzo-tg8uo]

I saw the movie twice and was wondering why he wasn’t included ?? Was such a great tragic real life movie 😢😢😢

[@rict5878]

Why do people make it sound like that Mike came along into the sport after David’s death? Most Ol school fans know that Mike came along while David was still alive.

[@dwightyboy5324]

Exactly, so many people get this detail wrong. I think they even tagged together for a match. You can search this up even.

[@brandybrown8296]

To be fair, Mike debuted on November 24, 1983. David passed on February 10th, 1984. So he wasn't active for even 3 months when David died. I think the point is Mike was forced to jump into a starring role that he just wasn't ready for. He had to fill that void at 20yrs old. That was never the plan and he just wasn't ready professionally, physically or emotionally.

[@lavelllucas]

The story was told from a creative narrative, not as a documentary. I am writing a book and screenplay about some amazing real life people who did extraordinary things, but it is hard to include every detail and every nook and cranny. I think they did a great job by amalgamating the two younger brothers to one character to focus on the narrative. The documentaries are already out there. This is a telling of the legend of The Von Erichs. I loved them on Mid-South Wrestling as a kid.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

@lavelllucas - Usually I would agree and films cannot be expected to be documentaries. But brotherhood is a key component of the Von Erich story so to pretend Chris doesn't exist just feels wrong. I know directors have to make tough calls but I think the audience would be ok with an extra 20 minutes to include the whole Von Erich story.

[@kwest5171]

No true story put into film is ever really the truest story. If the last surviving brother is good with it, who am I to argue. I'm just glad they're finally getting the recognition they deserve.

[@joshuaa1605]

It's one thing they didn't have time for him to have a character but to not even have him in family pics or have a kid running around in the background is just crazy to me. Like he never existed.

[@kroanosm617]

As a fan of wrestling during that time it is hard to get over all the stuff that was cut out. It makes sense sine their story is so full of tragedy and legacy that it is difficult to fit in a 2 or 3 hour movie.

[@martinward7230]

No excuse is a good excuse for totally dismissing a child that committed suicide as if he didn't exist.

[@papacito1817]

As a life long fan of the Von Erich family, I found a lot of stuff missing from the movie. My wife who is not a wrestling fan liked the movie so I guess it can go both ways. But I will say that this, the Von Erich family story should of not been made for the big screen, instead it should of been made for Netflix, Peacock or Starz. The reason being is that this could've of easily gone into 5 or 6 seasons, (one Season for the Dad & a season for each son) I also would've loved to have seen the families reaction to the death of Bruiser Brody since they were such good friends with him.

[@jeffmcclure4047]

Same with Gino's death, the story could have been about everything around them.

[@iceman2796]

I think you said it all for both the positives and the negatives. The movie could have been 6 hours long or a 5 part series. I thought what the director accomplished in a little over two hours was great. Glad you brought up Bruiser Brody. I thought it was very interesting to have a match in the movie with Brody and Gino Hernandez as heels (one murdered the other died of an OD). How about the mobile home? How many people know Jack died by drowning next to their mobile home after being shocked? I had to explain to my wife for over an hour after the movie about all the things that were left out or out of order. I thought the movie did a great job of describing as much as possible

[@librarianlovesrick]

papacito, I'd love a mini-series. Wresting in Dallas was such a big part of my childhood!

[@trebillis7399]

I believe leaving him out was a bad move but the movie was already long. Chris would have strengthened the story by emphasizing the unbelievable tragedy it was.

[@Kanoog]

Easier said than done, you are saying this without understanding how to make a movie from start to finish, you have no idea how difficult it is. People from the outside always think they know best. It's like watching sports "OH NO, WTF, why didn't he pass him the ball he was wide open" Wellllllll Because it is easier said than done.

[@thisisscorpio6024]

Message to the filmmakers: You know what, it's better to include Chris and avoid having to explain yourself every time, and sound less and less convincing in the process to a majority of people. By contrast, if you included Chris and devoted less than 5 minutes within the feature to him, no one would complain, because the big brothers were the stars. You f'd up.

[@NatRants]

exactly. they didn’t make the effort to include him, even in a small way.

[@cjmitchell881]

Well said. As someone who was VERY aware there was a brother missing from the movie's story, I spent most of my time fixated on that fact and feeling puzzled.

[@thisisscorpio6024]

@@cjmitchell881 You know, it feels cruel to me to exclude him. He wanted his brothers' stardom/acclaim but he didn't have it in the gene pool. He likely felt alone/ignored when he took his life. Now, he's being ignored by the filmmakers by not even existing. I'm at a loss.

[@dwightyboy5324]

​@@thisisscorpio6024adds even more tragedy to his life even decades after his death. The director should feel terrible for doing this

[@gabesmith1933]

Whatever the reason it was a bad decision. You either tell the true story or don't bother with the project.

[@Kanoog]

HAHAHA SURE! This is why you are in the comments section and the developers and directors are making the movies.

[@vipset87]

Thats actually good journalism. Salute to whoever did this piece

[@Big.Stepper.]

Kevin said, "Just make it already, so I can get this check!"

[@Partoftheratpack]

I don’t agree when dealing with true life source material. You make it work

[@jemms90]

Should have been a mini drama series. The saddest part is their story deserved the time and effort no matter how hard it would be to put together.

[@youtubeaccount5356]

In my opinion that's messed up, Chris mattered just as much as his older brothers did. His story should've been told as well.

[@Kanoog]

I have a idea, you should write the next movie.

[@dellcargill5698]

Next a 3 musketeers movie but lets leave 1 out😂😂

[@belinda8780]

Too much tragedy and not enough time to put him in. I wonder how he started wrestling. He was so fragile. I think they took it easy on Fritz

[@stuffwithsoph8264]

I was totally unfamiliar with the story until seeing the film, I loved it and then when looking up more details in the car on my phone I found out about Chris and now I quite dislike this movie. Leaving out one of the siblings is SOOO disrespectful, especially since its THEIR story as a family, you can't just leave one out :/

[@ericscott3997]

Truly a shitting thing to do to the one brother who because of his size & health issue was left out of the Glory his brothers achieved in wrestling. While Mike's injury & suicide was extremely tragic, it took a larger toll on Chris, because he felt the need to step up.

[@azariah15]

I'm still shocked at how Chris Von Erich ended up so short in stature, compared to his brothers. It's a shame how he ended up screwed genetically, plus he had issues with fragile bones. Excluding him made no sense. I know I will get backlash for this, but there's always been discrimination against short males and poor Chris ended up a 5'4 male. If he was 5 inches taller, I bet he would have been included.

[@arlopear7136]

Why doesn't he just say he's not good enough of a writer to include Chris & keep it moving. I saw the movie, I guess Chris needed to be cut to make room for (SPOILER ALERT) David Von Erich jerking off in the shower. Chris' story and death was really an essential part of the Von Erich tragedy as a whole but seeing as Durkin seriously chopped what really happened to bits and just left the cliff notes remaining, young Chris became expendable. I came to the conclusion that this movie wasn't meant for hardcore old school wrestling fans who have been following this Von Erich story for decades but to casuals and general audience members coming into the movie cold. Some people who are the former, including me, found this story to be pretty hollow & rushed. It seems like once David died, Durkin hit the gas & sped right through the unfolding events which in reality took 9 years & wrapped it up in 2 years for his story. I know that was enough for the overwhelming majority of people & I'm happy so many loved this movie & got even a small taste of the Von Erich story, but for me it was a kind of a letdown. Letdown as in story, acting was geat. I thought Zac Efron and Holt McCallany were outstanding & if they don't at least get an Oscar nomination its a crime. Years before The Iron Claw was even greenlit I always thought there's no way to do true justice to the Von Erich story in a movie thats 2 - 2 & a half hours long & that a tv series on streaming was the best way to go. After the Iron Claw I feel even more strong about that now but I think that ship has sailed because despite my disappointment with it, this movie is a huge hit & I don't see anyone trying to tackle an even more in depth and more accurate re-telling of the story anytime soon if at all.

[@kerimcgloughlin7451]

This movie should have been a miniseries. They left out a lot.

[@deadbodychic75]

I grew up watching these guys. They were a favorite of my mothers. I knew how it was going to end. I cried all thru the movie. RIP Chris... it's understandable as it would seem repetitive in movie form. Good thing awesome people made these videos so all that searched could learn all the facts.

[@Airjet2582]

Similar to how Prince of Arabia was missing from "Straight Outta Compton".

[@mrphoenix8632]

That decision was one which was very disrespectful to the legacy of the Von Erich family. Younger viewers who aren’t familiar with the family will be lead to believe Chris didn’t exist, and he deserves his story to be known as much as the rest do.

[@precooked-bacon]

Thanks for letting us know. I was gonna watch this week but i'll pass until it hits streaming.

[@JL-zn7me]

I don’t think Chris or any of the deaths ( David’s daughter)should have been taken out of the movie. This wasn’t their “movie “, this was their life, their reality. As tragic and heartbreaking as it is, to say “ it was too many deaths for the movie” or “ the deaths were too similar “ is deplorable.

[@sheilapchase]

Call me unrealistic, but I am a true Texan who grew up watching almost every televised bit of this family, and I am already angry before even seeing the movie. The movie blends Mike and Chris. Really? These two men were two different people with different relationships to each of the brothers. Hearing that the movie blends 2 brothers into one will leave this Texan feeling empty and confused. A big part of the Von Erich story is how Chris's brothers worked so hard to make him part of the wrestling world even though Chris was not healthy and strong. Missed opportunity, and (in my opinion) a huge mistake in choosing to blend 2 brothers. I do understand the challenge of having to make artistic decisions. However, the person making the movie said that he didn't approach Kevin until he knew what movie he was making. I am not sure how he sold his choice of blending to Kevin, but that choice (for me) points to the idea that the rise and fall of the Von Erich wrestling was primary. The brotherly love ought to have been primary, and the wrestling ought to have been secondary. Now, I wonder if I will be watching what I will view as "just another wrestling movie." I am offended on behalf of both Mike and Chris. Neither got his glory in the ring, so now the movie-maker cheats each out of the glory of the brotherly love coming to the big screen. Maybe, just maybe, the movie-maker should have spent a large amount of time talking to fans of that era. Missed opportunity; big mistake.

[@TNAROHfan]

It was a terrible slight! Just unthinkable to completely write out an actual brother who took on that cursed stage name and tried to live up to it to make his family proud of him. Like I said, I got an eerie feeling that the worst of every cartoon stereotype of old Fritz himself, had written it like a wrestling storyline and omitted the "embarrassing" Von Erich brother from it.

[@jaylucien669]

I saw the movie, and at the risk of throwing more fuel on your fire, the Mike character is not a composite of Mike And Chris. It's all Mike. At least I didn't see any traits of Chris in him.

[@sheilapchase]

@@TNAROHfan I had planned on going to the matinee tomorrow to see this much-awaited movie, but I know that I will walk away feeling incomplete, so I am debating on whether or not to go. Those who didn't grow up with the Von Erichs wouldn't miss Chris. Those of us who did grow up with the Von Erichs will miss Chris. Chris had such a big heart for his brothers. Chris had to know that he wasn't wrestling material. Even so, Chris joined right in. Leaving Chris out leaves out a large chunk of the story. I remember Daddy saying, "Why in the world would Fritz let Chris in the ring. He can't whip nobody." Daddy, soon after, said, "Probably because Chris wanted to be with his brothers and didn't want to feel left out." The other brothers protected Chris. I believe you when you say that Mike was all Mike in the movie. I think the movie-maker wanted to use words to conjure up (in the viewers minds) what he left out of the movie. I surely am glad that Doris isn't here to see how Chris is totally absent from the movie. Heck, even Lance (from my understanding) gets a second or two in the movie, so why not Chris?

[@sheilapchase]

​@@TNAROHfan Hey, I am with you, and I suspect that Kevin was not happy about the choice since Kevin (reportedly) said that the choice "made sense" while also (reportedly) admitting that he could not have done much about the choice. Well, Fritz loved all his sons and didn't try to hide Chris. Fritz put Chris right out there when he could. Leaving Chris out tells me that the movie-maker, most likely, forgot that he was telling a family wrestling story and defaulted to a wrestling story. "Family" (brotherly love and brothers wanting to please Fritz, their father) is what makes this movie different. So now we know. Only some family members count. I suppose Chris just wasn't sellable enough in the movie-maker's mind. Chris is certainly sellable to those who grew up with the Von Erichs. Sorry Chris. You deserve better.

[@cjmitchell881]

Well said. He deserved better. Shame on Hollywood.@@sheilapchase

[@CanadianKaosGirl1]

This story could be told in completion if they made a limited 6 or 8 part series on Netflix or Prime maybe Paramount. Take the time to make sure the actors were actual look a likes instead of combining characters . I saw the movie ... it is a nice tribute that glossed over alot of important details ...seemed rushed ... I think a short series would be better.

[@MrBiscuit75]

Since the VonErich families lives and tragedies were so well known do to their popularity it made zero sense leaving Chris out of the movie. Why censor a life story youve been given permission to tell and not tell the story as thorough as possible? I feel like the balance the director thought he would lose could have been found if he worked closer with kevin or people close to the family to inject the levity he thought he needed. There could have been dream sequences or flashback memories instead of just omitting Chris who's story deserved to be told imo. Also would have definitely added kevins story when he tried to go to jail and some good old texas boys helped save him from himself. The closer you can stay true the better.

[@nevermindgaming6848]

You do know all bio pics do this right cut out some of the stuff due to behind the scenes reason

[@cuzzisaidso6220]

I know they said they cut him for reasons but I still hate they didn't give him an honorable mention or something Chris deserved to be in this movie 🤬

[@rccomics]

In an interview the director also felt that for non-wrestling fans (the vast majority of people) Chris’ suicide would have been too much of a downer and pushed the audiences believability too far. That movie was already tragic enough.

[@nostalgiaman6816]

The irony huh? Chris wasn’t big enough or strong enough to wrestle. And.. apparently.. his death wasn’t “big enough” to be in the movie. You have to make the audience FEEL what Kevin felt. All these comments about how another suicide being in the movie would be so sad. WTF?! These same people probably loved the Rambo movies.

[@Mr.Majestic77]

You made the best comment on this post. If it's going to be a biopic, tell the whole story. For that, I still have The Wrestler as the best dramatization of Pro Wrestling.

[@theexorcist7717]

That's how I feel about it too. I really enjoyed the movie and I understand where the director is coming from but at the end of the day it comes off as bad taste to not include a person in the movie who always felt... not included.

[@nostalgiaman6816]

@@Mr.Majestic77 When Kevin tells the story on WWE’s dvd about finding Chris’s suicide note after speaking to him out on the ranch… then running back out there and putting his “thumb” in the hole - along with his mother having to witness it - that should have been in the movie

[@lamarthomas5603]

They could have gave a pro wrestler a chance to play Kerry. You don’t need acting chops to play that guy. Kerry’s physique, good looks and athleticism is what was alluring. Zach Efron didn’t need to look like a show ready bodybuilder to resemble Kevin. So weird.

[@TNAROHfan]

Very hard to find a pro wrestler now days that even resembles Kerry in terms of physique and athleticism. Off the top of my head, Kenny Omega is about the closest you could even come looks wise and that's a stretch of about 4 inches, 40 pounds or so, a lot of age difference and the fact that his goofy Canadian ass sounds nothing like Kerry's painfully slow Texan drawl.

[@robertmorris1667]

I was born near the end of 1970. I grew up watching World Class Championship wrestling. I remember Chris. After watching the movie, I started wondering if he was part of the act, not related to the Von Erichs, like Lance! I know it was a terrible tragedy, but he should've been mentioned, just like the rest of the brothers. If Kerry ever saw the guy they picked to play him, he probably would've been shocked…lol…the guy looked like a Hobbit in 🎬Lord of the Rings. Kerry was the size of the Warrior, like 6’2, 6’3…lol…they say this guy is 5’7? I couldn't take him seriously. Would you have a guy that’s 6’5 play Andre the Giant…lol…Efron had no resemblance to Kevin. David and the father were pretty much spot on.

[@rohegarcia2802]

@@robertmorris1667It’s acting my man. It’s about getting the best performance, not a look a like.

[@sheilapchase]

@@TNAROHfan How about Joseph Baena? He closely resembled Kerry in some ways before he chopped off his hair.

[@bobcobb3654]

@@rohegarcia2802exactly. Filmmakers have long known how to make a person look taller on screen. Come on, Tom Cruise has been an action star for 30 years. It’s better to get a qualified actor that can bulk up to a degree than offer an emotionally heavy performance to someone you’d have to teach to act.

[@MissyT72]

How was there deaths similar? I'm from Texas and was a teen in the 80's. The Von Erich's were ROCKSTARS in Texas. I remember everything and their deaths were nothing alike. I love that their story is being told. You can't imagine how HUGE this family was back then I hate that Chris isn't in it

[@rccomics]

They both got into the business, ended up physically damaged from it (Mike with toxic shock syndrome and Chris injured due to brittle bones) and couldn’t wrestle up to the level of the older brothers and killed themselves. Mike was never the same afterwards and he knew it.

[@gilbertrios5283]

I'm hoping now that a movie has been made that they make a mini series which would allow for alot that the movie given its time restraints couldn't!

[@RAPPEMupWRIGHT]

Damn Chris was overlook in life and Death that’s the part that makes me mad about him not being in the movie, he literally killed himself because he felt like he wasn’t good enough only for his story to be left out completely in the bio pic…….shame on the director for that

[@galvarinomapuche3753]

F Chris

[@madisonrembert2024]

@@galvarinomapuche3753That is so rude

[@MrRight80]

They could have done an epilogue text at the end saying Mike died on such and such a day and Chris died on such a such a day.

[@Wheretheportlandorarealadiesat]

The director literally said it’s already to dark and sad enough

[@Kanoog]

EXACTLY and it's the directors creative liberties to make that choices, all of these back seating idiots need to just enjoy a movie and stop being negative and annoying cry babies who think they know best.

[@Wheretheportlandorarealadiesat]

@@Kanoog I agree it’s sad just like the movie and story and movie is epic a modern classic

[@brandonmedeiros1955]

Kevin is great guy. Tough guy who also saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Much respect

[@worleyzack]

They shouldn't have cut Chris, it made the movie disingenuous and feel incomplete to what could've been a great movie. It still was great to anyone that doesn't do any research or have any idea who the Von Erich's were/are.

[@MrAdal206]

They really should’ve included the death of the youngest brother. That family went through so much and the whole entire story should’ve shown just how much had happened to them.

[@willjames6437]

I watched the film yesterday and left thinking, “Wtf? Did I just watch….It was 2 hours of death and heartache.” I think that is why they put in that strange scene at the end of the dead brothers on the river- to try and offset some of the heaviness from the film. I can see why the omitted the death of David’s daughter and Mike. It would just be too much unless they made the movie 3 hours. It was more like watching a World War II movie with trench war fare than it was a sports movie. It is just a very sad story with a glimmer of hope at the end. It was well done, but the heaviness of the movie makes it far from gratifying to watch. I woke up the next day, with a sad feeling about what happened to the Von Erich family.

[@NorCalTC]

They even had baby Jackie in the movie! To leave Chris out was just wrong. Even a brief bit about Chris would have been at least “ok” but to cut the smallest, youngest brother out completely, is just so disrespectful

[@TNAROHfan]

So we can mention Jack jr, who was never a Von Erich, but we can't even get a simple acknowledgement that Chris even existed...as a person? That his brother's death's (particularly Mike's) and his own inability to measure up to the Von Erich "standard" was a key element in the whole downfall of the family and played a huge role in his own suicide? I call Bullshit! What a slight to Chris! It's just beyond the scope of acceptable artistic license. It's as if all the worst stereotypes of Fritz returned from the grave and penned it himself. "We're not gonna mention that little crippled boy! He wasn't a real Von Erich anyway and wasn't any son of mine. All my son's are winners and champions, like how they were raised to be." What a fitting last chapter to the Von Erich saga/tragedy, but not in the way the writers/directors think. We've killed Chris twice now, written him out and finally unpersoned him to a whole new generation! I can't support this movie!

[@BarekHalfhand]

I get what you're saying but I can see why they wanted to combine Mike and Chris into a composite character based on similarities... I think both Mike and Chris in the movie would have been too much of a complication and because of time constraints.

[@Jeffro5564]

Good. Don’t watch the movie when your temper comes down. Cos you be a hypocrite if ya do so stay away and don’t comment about it harden up princess

[@TNAROHfan]

​@@BarekHalfhand They can say all they want about time constraints, but I've already seen the movie (not paid for it) and there was a lot of unnecessary filler they could have cut instead, just to give even a tiny mention to Chris as a person. You can't tell the family story of the Von Erich's without Chris because he was as big a part of their fall from grace , as were Kevin, David, Kerry and Mike. His death was literally the pivotal moment that made Doris Adkisson finally divorce Fritz for her own sanity.

[@BarekHalfhand]

@@TNAROHfan Wccw was on for a short time here in Chicago during the height of the Von Erich/ Freebirds fued ... I used to watch it back then because I thought the Freebirds were hilarious although I didn't really know too much about the whole Von Erich lore that was so popular in Texas... I remember when David passed away but kind of lost track of that family since... I did see the dark side of the Ring episodes about the Von Erichs but it didn't seem like there was a whole lot of focus on Chris as I recall... I watched the movie for free as well and I found it rather depressing.

[@TNAROHfan]

@@BarekHalfhand Their story is horribly depressing. If I hadn't grown up with the Von Erich's as childhood idols, I wouldn't even want to watch anything about them. We all kind of just lost track of them for our own sanity. You could literally watch the crowds melt away after each tragedy. My dad wouldn't even let us watch or go see World Class anymore after Mike's death and Fritz's heart attack angle. He said it was a morbid carnival freak show. So I got into Crockett instead and mostly put the Von Erich's out of mind until the l picked up an RF video shoot with Kevin sometime in the early 2000's.

[@Bowjack]

do they mention him at the end?? with the text? i forgot

[@keymaster430]

Yeah, I just don't get it. They said that adding Chris would've been too much of an addition to the tragedy. But, to me that's exactly why they should've included him. To add to the fact that this family was cursed. Still a wonderful movie though.

[@joshdude1975]

Strange I was wondering why there wasn’t a fifth brother and I also felt like each death was rushed. But it’s a long movie and a lot of story to tell. This could have been a really good HBO or showtime miniseries but I’m still happy with what we got.

[@jeffmcclure4047]

The deaths were rushed and white washed and the timeline was way off at times, that bothered me more than anything.

[@iceman2796]

Exactly!

[@marivelindafloresorte2155]

Families always say, you never leave behind nobody in your Family ❤. You support every Family member as unique and special. And Chris needed that credit and respect as how the rest of his Brothers did. Yes I am sure it was going to be 😢even more sad one more death of the Brothers but it was their loving 🥰 true story. All the time God is good 😢💝🎆🎁⭐️🎊🙏🤗🌎💒😇

[@q6407]

This should of been a TV series

[@bobbyhunt3009]

How would you like someone to tell your family's story but then leave you out of it. Anybody out there, how would you feel, TERRIBLE, I blame hollywood but all they care about is money, they would leave their mother out if it meant more money so I blame Kevin a lot, he could've made sure Chris was in the movie or he should not have signed off on it being made. Maybe he needs the money so bad he said to heck with Chris but this is on Kevin and Hollywood. I tell you one thing, I have lost all my respect for Kevin for letting them make a movie about his family and then leaving his smallest brother out. Shame on you Kevin and hollywood. You could've put Chris in the movie for 5 minutes and in the family pics. Are you kidding me and oh my goodness gracious on the casting. The Von Erichs were huge compared to these little guys playing them.

[@cjmitchell881]

I love Love LOVE KVE... and I agree with this man. Shame on anyone who would argue for leaving out a brother from my family's story. I think there are some smart people out there. Consult someone and figure out how to include him, or no - you don't have my blessing to make this movie. Period. Oh! AND I love KVE.

[@dwightyboy5324]

I've been trying to figure out why Kevin would be okay with them leaving out Chris for a while. I think the reason Kevin went with it is because this was probably his only chance to see a movie made about him and his family in his lifetime. I imagine not many people were coming up to him about making this movie, so he probably figured this would be his only chance considering his age. I don't agree with his decision necessarily, but I do understand it if this is why he did it.

[@cedesl.4960]

That’s actually disheartening. Because even when Chris was alive he felt excluded from his brothers because he was smaller and had weak bones. And to not put him in the movie just further throws him out. The real fans didnt forget about you Chris!❤

[@lacabrawey]

😔 Mike and Chris had the saddest death

[@__-wm9lu]

1:33 he says this but the characters aren’t combined AT ALL. Nothing to do with Chris within Mike

[@jasonrichardson2161]

Blame the the writer and then blame the director! If Chris was in the movie it would’ve been my fav wrestling movie

[@mazsenior]

The combined hardship and heartbreak that their mother and Kevin has endured makes a Greek Tragedy seem meaningless. I hope that people get the same message I walked away with after watching this movie; tell your loved ones you love them…..each and every day.

[@DerpDart]

Kevin is a kind soul

[@JGas20]

As a person who grew up during the "Attitude Era" I've never heard of the family. I stumbled across this movie on Max and this movie was depressing as shit, but a great movie. 5 out of 6 sons die and 3 by suicide has to be devastating especially for the mother

[@makavellie6275]

Kevin is such an amazing soul.....God Bless him

[@JHernandez]

While I still enjoyed the film, a Von Erich limited series would have hit hard. I mean, you could even make a series that just revolved around Kerry's career in wrestling, he lived a HELL of a life.

[@mrmike1884]

I'm also surprised that Marc lowreance was not even mentioned in the movie as well.

[@FuzzyStayBuzzin183]

You are not human if you don't cry when all four brothers see each other in the afterlife in the end

[@provost5752]

How they could leave him out is beyond me.