At first i was like "probably not that close to two decades". Then i checked and yeah, its been 17 years since high school musical so yeah, thanks for the reminder regarding my age lol
Zac Efron was really out of place. He was the only one juiced out of his mind. That coupled with the work done on his face he's starting to look like a neanderthal. There were a lot of shots in the movie where he just looked completely unnatural and gross.
The scene that had me in my quiet tears was after Kerry's suicide. Reuniting with his brothers. Then the ending with kevin crying while watching his sons playing. Man this was a great movie.
Yeah it was really good. I held it together most he movie, but the part that got me was when the Mom couldn't put the dress on. The photo of the family was at least uplifting, look happy and certainly a good looking bunch!
I thought he killed it as Kerry. Efron is the one that dropped the ball. Dude has nothing to offer but his looks. Lucky for him that’s all that matters to the entertainment industry
@@Spooky_515 The guys who played Fritz and David Von Erich did a good job. I agree that Zac didn't remind me of Kevin at all. Still a good movie though.
Could never imagine the pain that Kevin had to go through with losing all of his brothers. But extremely happy that Kevin got a happy ending with his family getting bigger with his grandkids
I can not imagine that kind of pain. I lost one sister and it hurt me to my core to this day I can not imagine losing all of my sisters! He has to be strong, and is wife really gave him the love he needed to go on.
If you know the true story, it’s actually even more tragic where they left out the youngest brother whose story was arguably the most tragic of all. He also died by suicide. The father pulled a gun on Kevin and said he didn’t have the guts to join his brothers.
This is during the era of World Class Championship Wrestling. This is the territory of Fritz Von Erich and his sons. This is the era of Harley Race, Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Jerry Lawler, Kamala, The Missing Link and The Fabulous Freebirds. Rest in Peace Texas Tornado. The Iron Claw film shows the hardships and tragedies of the Von Erich family.
@@claywinn32 He loved pro wrestling more than any of the other brothers and he was injured so easily due to his medication for his asthma which led to more brittle bones. He would get hurt on simple maneuvers where he just couldn’t be in the ring ultimately to do what he loved at a high level.
The director deliberately left it out because with it the film becomes too tragic, and while it’s an aspect of the movie he didn’t want it to be the core. Just interesting so thought I’d share.
They left out so much tragedy too. There was another brother that died by suicide who wasn't even in the film, and David Von Erich had a baby daughter that died by SIDS. Really sad stuff. The ending SPOILER - where the brothers hug their toddler oldest brother, Jackie, had me absolutely sobbing. As well as Kevin crying watching his sons play, because he'll never play with his own brothers again.
@@bryanhoyte1490 No. No, he's got a point. WWE and especially AEW cater mostly to the smarks who just want spot after spot without any logic behind it
AS a Texan I seen the Von Erichs at the Sportatorium and in my home town. I grew up just loving to see them and when the tragedy just kept coming, even as a kid, I couldnt believe why it kept happening. Im sure many fans mourned like we did So seeing this movie will be hard to watch because it was like watching super heroes when you're a kid.
Chris story would've taken up a lot of time but it is a story worth telling. His tragedy began after birth, as he suffered from severe kidney problems. The doctors were able to treat him but these treatments greatly stunted his growth. His max height was 5'5". Even so, Chris desperately wanted to be just like brothers and take up wrestling. Like his brothers he worked hard but sadly played hard too, as he developed a cocaine problem. He got his shot at wrestling in the early 90's after Jerry Jarrett had bought out World Class. Chris gave it his all but he just didn't have it. This, along with his cocaine addiction sent him into a deep depression and led to him taking his life by self inflicted gunshot in Sept. 1991. Naturally, Chris' death devastated the entire family but it was even harder on Kerry, who was just as much Chris' surrogate parent as he was his older brother. Had Chris lived and prospered in life, there's a very good chance Kerry doesn't take his own life over a year later.
Chris really was the most devastating loss in the family, for the reasons you mentioned. And with that I totally understand why they didnt include him in a movie that is already overloaded with emotion and devastation.
there is an episode of Dark Side of the Ring documentary where they covered their story, they even brought the family into the episode. perfect companion to this movie in my opinion
Getting into pro wrestling in the late 80's and early 90's, I only knew of Kerry Von Erich as the Texas Tornado.... When I saw that Dark Side of the Ring episode, I was absolutely floored and gutted as I had known NOTHING of the Von Erich's outside of Kerry. And even with Kerry, I didn't know how he had passed!!!
If anyone is curious about that show...If you have an Hulu account, the show is available and the episode covering them is the 4th episode on the first season.
You really can see how much Zac has grown as an actor since his "High School Musical" fame. I hope the Academy doesn't overlook him this year. His performance is so essential to making this movie great while emphasizing its depressing themes and consistent sense of despair.
6 месяцев назад
Really enjoyed this one. Holt McCallany was pitch-perfect as Fritz. Fully expecting the Oscars to ignore it, but I hope it picks up some surprise momentum.
@@guitarjavi75this is the most contrarian nonsense ever. The oscars nominated many good movies. This year the supporting actor category has Oppenheimer, Killers of the flower moon, poor things and May December in the race. If you can't find anything good there you have weird standards
I saw it yesterday. I'd seen the trailer a couple of times, and I knew it would be rough. I still wasn't ready. I'm a softy, but I don't think I've ever shed as many tears for a movie as I did this. The scene right towards the end with the four brothers absolutely broke me. On the flip side, it made me thankful for not having a father who put the weight of his expectations and dreams on his children.
As someone who has been a fan of Zac Efron since his High School Musical days starting in 2006, it's awesome to see how far he has become in being a talented actor. One of few Disney Channel stars that didn't went crazy, I'm so proud of him 👍
I'm in the same boat as you. Will always be an HSM fan. And have always followed and rooted for those former DC stars to be successful. Seeing Zac Efron get his star on the WoF and this movie's success just makes me so happy for him
I love how the film balanced the relationship between the brothers and their father. The sheer weight of expectations and love the family held for each other was heartwarming but also somewhat morbid when it came to the Father.
That was a problem for me. Fritz was portrayed as a bad father because he pushed his boys to be their best and to not accept anything less. That used to be the American way, the best get the job, no place for second best and that’s why America was the greatest nation in the world back then and why it’s a woke mess now
@@Spooky_515 you say it so black and white. Clearly, there is a line, and their father crossed it. That’s what makes their story tragic. Especially the actually real details of how their father actually pushed the last one to his suicide himself. You’re clearly delusional.
@@Spooky_515 I understand your point but there are most certainly lines to this. He was a bad father for many more reasons than just pushing his children to be the best, but that lesson alone was often mutated into a cycle of neglect.
The entire cast is amazing but Zac Efron is just tremendous. What a triumph of a performance. So glad he finally got that role to showcase his dramatic talent
Another thing that could've/should've been added were that David was married at the time of his death, and Kerry had two daughters at the time of his death. The movie's focus is on Kevin, so I understand just like I understand why Chris just wasn't in the movie. But showing that those two had families outside of the brothers could've added more to the overall story as well.
Yea. I wish they would have at least added Chris. It almost seems disrespectful to leave him out. Because Chris was the runt only standing at 5'5 and had brittle bones. He took his life because he always felt like he was in his brother's shadow. Leaving him out makes it almost seem like he's still under their shadow.
I agree but it’s the same situation with Chris. The movie would have to be much longer because they can’t just be like “by the way he has a wife and kids”, they’d have to develop it into the movie as well as how they were affected by the death(s). I honestly think they should’ve made it a series rather than a movie that way they can include everything.
@@bexx7956 Yeah, the dramatically-licensed contrast of only Kevin finding a good wife is meant to emphasize how only he was able in the end to grasp a good fatherhood as his way to break the “curse”.
@@michaelbush1374 well said. Chris was an extremely depressed young man who after the death of the brother he was closest with, Mike, felt like he had no place in the family & Durkin's decision to omit him from the movie is kind of like saying he really didn't matter at all. I've always felt the worse about Chris out of all the deaths and after all this Iron Claw drama it's only increased
Saw this last night and I was absolutely not prepared for the toll it would take on my emotions. My gosh I was emotionally drained. So sad and so well done
One of my favorite movies of the year. When the credits began to roll, I literally started crying in the theater. Not just tearing up, but literal crying. I don't believe that's ever happened to me in the theater before. It's such an amazing and powerful film. I can't recommend it enough.
@@Subliminal_Pandawow!!! Your so MANLY!!! Is that what you want people to think when you wrote that reply? Honestly the amount of insecurity you have to type this out makes you look more soft than the guy who wrote this comment tbh. Do something better with your life rather than shaming others. Do better
My mom babysat for Kerry in high school for his daughter and was there when that family fell apart around her I grew up with stories of them my entire life and can’t wait to watch it
Breaking the cycle of pain is difficult. I came from a family that labeled us, told us our place and we never were allowed out of that box. I don’t do that with my kids, but I do understand loving the ones that hurt you the most.
I was bawling for the second half of the movie, it’s so true how you genuinely feel the pain as it goes on. Zac Efron’s performance was so good. Everybody killed it.
I bawled like a baby at the end of this movie. I turn to my left and a lady is recording the entire row simultaneously crying with me….i won’t spoil it. But this movie changed me. I have 4 sons. Nothing is more important than family.
Last half of the movie had me crying so much, I have 3 younger brothers, so I could somewhat relate to Kevin’s struggle at least in the sibling dynamic, but I was not prepared for how emotional this would be.
Kerry Von Erich was one of my favorite wrestlers as a kid. I grew up watching him as the Texas tornado and WWF. Still remember the day he died. 😢It did break me as a little boy who lost his hero. Fun fact: Kerry did Russell in the WWE missing part of his leg. Talk about a workhorse and a man who was good at his craft.
So glad to hear that this film is good. Such a tragic story with the Von Erichs. I don't know how Kevin Von Erich can still smile today after everything he went through loosing so many of his brothers.
I love the fact that this movie was made and is reaching audiences who may not be as familiar with wrestling. This is covering a very iconic and historic period of this industry. Although the story is tragic - this family is a HUGE piece of wrestling history. If anyone liked this movie I encourage them to give pro wrestling a chance. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it! Really is such a unique form of live entertainment that totally engages the audience. Thank you Sean Durkin for making the movie and thanks to people like Jeremy for spreading the good word!
Growing up in Dallas, Tx in the 90s I've heard about the Von Erics from my mom, WWF fan and loved the Texas Tornado. I've seen their documentary, and I'm going to check this kut this weekend. I appreciate the review.
This movie touched me unlike any other. I lost my older brother when I was 13 and I’ve lost an older cousin who was like a brother to me 2 years ago. Seeing the same pain portrayed on screen was a rush of emotions that I’ve felt I could never get anyone else to understand. I felt seen thanks to this amazing movie. I hope one day I can see my brother and cousin in heaven like in the movie 🖤
Insightful thoughts. Looking forward to seeing the movie. By grace and mercy, without earning anything, as a child would we can receive the gift of everlasting life in heaven through believing the sacrifice of God's Son.
Happy to see Zac Efron mature as an actor. Love this gritty realistic movies that hit you in the gut. This is in the same league as the original Rocky, Raging Bull, and The Fighter. Can’t wait to see this again, and again.
I’ve been a fan of Zac Efron’s acting chops since he first came on the scene with High School Musical. I actually rewatched those movies not that long ago and his talent really does shine even in cheesy Disney movies. Then you have movies like Charlie St Cloud and Extremely Wicked and it becomes clear his talent has always been there, just not fully tapped into. I’m glad he’s finally getting recognition for it!
High School Musical is a classic. Whether people like it or not, Zac truly shined in the trilogy, Disney utilized him very well and I'm happy for that. I mean geez, the "Bet On It" sequence where he was just a random guy dancing to a mental breakdown at the golf course?? Bro put so much effort into making a satisfying scene and my god he did it
The von Erichs at the time were as big if not bigger than what Hogan was when World Class and AWA were at their prime. They were selling out Texas stadiums.
Thank you!! When Rick Flair appeared on screen it took me out of the film a little (definitely felt off performance wise) but as soon as he enters the locker room the actor did a phenomenal job.
This movie broke me. I have 3 brothers, and while they’re all still alive I feel like I’ve lost them in some form or another. My older brother was given up for adoption before I was born and so I never really got to know him and have only met him a few times. My stepbrother who was the only brother I really knew through my teen years and probably the person I was closest to, we got into it in our junior year (2017) over something stupid and haven’t seen each other since. I want to repair things, but he isn’t willing to forgive. My youngest brother is the one I see the most, but that’s still few and far between because he lives with my mother hours away, and my relationship with her was strained so I didn’t even get to know him until he was 10. He’s 12 now. Idk if you can spoil a true story, but when Kevin was crying watching his boys play football, and he said “I used to be a brother, but I’m not one anymore.” That was one of the most devastating moments in a movie for me ever. I miss my brothers so much.
Ironically I feel like killers of the flower moon could have been a solid hour and 45 minute movie and The Iron Claw could have benefited from being a 3+ Hour emotional roller coaster. Loved the movie, the ending got me!
@@iang8169hard to find someone to properly replicate the nature boy's brand of charisma. A couple of his inflections during the promo scene were on point imo but otherwise kind of a jarring performance especially if you're familiar with Ric Flair.
@@iang8169 Should've thrown a wig on MJF. Would've hit the promo and the strut much better. Or hell, I would have been less distracted if it was Jay Lethal rather than the actor they hired.
Saw it tonight, and absolutely loved it. You’re 100% right. You not only see the loss. You feel it. There’s one scene in particular, where I just leaned back into my seat and said, “Oh, no.” ‘Cause I knew something was coming like a freight train, and you could feel it. It was incredible.
The Von Erich story is a sad one. Still, hoping Iron Claw is successful enough to inspire more adaptations of wrestling tales. Bruiser Brody's death would make a compelling movie, for instance.
I was always fascinated by the Von Erich story (a similarly tragic wrestling family are the Grahams from Florida). The documentary Heroes of World Class is fantastic. I remember seeing Kerry in Summerslam 91 when I was a kid and thinking, “wow, that guy looks just like He-Man.” Was a big Texas Tornado fan for his short run in WWF/E and was shocked by his suicide in ‘93. Their story led me to focus on an investigation in multiple suicides in families as my undergraduate thesis. I was surprised that they left out Chris’ story although for the purpose of the film it makes sense, I just couldn’t believe it when they had the family photo with a picture of Jackie Jr on top and there was no Chris. (Lance makes it but not Chris.)
I grew up in lake Dallas not 15 minutes from the Von Erich ranch. My mother knew Chris personally and was a huge fan of theirs in the 80s and 90s. It was amazing to watch this movie with her. We all loved it
To this day, when we see the older Kevin von Erich & he talks about his family, he just looks like world wearied sadness personified. I can't even imagine carrying all that emotional weight. Of course, he has a family of his own now & he lives in Hawaii but, damn, if the story of that territory get dark sometimes.
I've been looking forward to this film since it was first announced. As a lifelong Pro Wrestling fan, as someone who watched Kerry Von Erich when he was The Texas Tornado in WWF and as someone who's always been fascinated about the story of The Von Erich Family, this movie is definitely right up my alley. Just sucks that the filmmakers left out the youngest Von Erich brother Chris. SIDE NOTE: If anyone here in the comments are interested in learning more about The Von Erich Family, I highly recommend Cultaholic's documentary video The Rise & Fall of The Von Erichs.
One of the saddest movies I've seen in awhile! I did not know the about the story or the family curse, so every time there was a loss, I was in shock and praying there would be no more. As you said, knowing the real story is even more tragic and shows that perhaps their dad did push them all too far. I could not be happier to know Kevin got his happy ending and peace despite all the loss he experienced.
There was the Dallas Sportatorium where everyone from The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, etc. all started early in their careers and worked at many moons ago. My parents said that building in the 70's and 80's had a lot of up and coming talent that eventually saw many make it and others go through rough times like the Von Erich family. There's a clip of The Rock on Joe Rogan talking about Texas wresting and how they were molded by that era of wrestling.
Glad you mentioned the Ric Flair promo...it wasn't even an impression of him. That being said, I had watched the Dark Side of the Ring episode, so I kinda knew what I was getting into, and it still wrecked me at the end.
The actor playing flair was absofrikenlutley hopless . Cant believe no one told the director how bad the guy was . But it didn't reck the movie, it was great
Interested to see this! Along with The Wrestler - two amazing films showing the dark side of the sport. Also worth checking that out if you’ve not seen it
I grew up in Dallas and watched the whole story unfold in real time. Not sure if I'm prepared to relive the tragedy of the Von Erichs' but I desperately want to see a gut wrenching movie this year.
I grew up in this era in the South with this wrestling playing out every week. So glad they finally got their respect on the big screen. The Von Erichs were like wrestling royalty during a time when there was very little money involved and it was a real passion to continue performing, complete with no support for mental or physical abuse, and with your only reward being a small weekly bump from the audience and a maybe just enough pay to eek out a living.
This is during the era of World Class Championship Wrestling. This is the territory of Fritz Von Erich and his sons. This is the era of Harley Race, Ric Flair, Bruiser Brody, Jerry Lawler, Kamala, The Missing Link and The Fabulous Freebirds. Rest in Peace Texas Tornado. The Iron Claw film shows the hardships and tragedies of the Von Erich family.
One of the saddest movies ive ever seen, but one of the best movies of the year. As one past comment said this isnt even the full story. But this biopic was told with so much respect to the tragedy. This was a masterpiece
Deeply sad. What a story. Kudos to Effron who nailed the good soul of Kevin. It resonates long after like you said too jeremy...oh dear. Hold loved ones close after this!
My dad lost all of his brothers 4 and his only sister. I drove him to all the funerals some in other states. To see some of them before they died. Some died of cancer, car accident, farm accident, diabetes. Throughout the whole thing I never saw my dad cry or really get down at himself. Just very accepting as that's the way life is. This movie just brought a lot of those memories back.
Grew up watching the Von Erichs here in Texas and remember all of those matches. Was happy to see Bruiser Brody included in this as he was also Texas product who was taken too soon.
I honestly thought that Zack Efron was going to play Kerry, after all he was the best looking of the Von Erichs. However, It does make sense for him to take on the role of Kevin, the last surviving brother. I remember that Kevin was the scrappiest member of that family. The one that used the Iron Claw the most. It was such a tragedy on how it all ended
This movie kinda broke me. I already knew about the von erichs and the tragedies but seeing it all play out in this movie through Kevin's eyes. It no longer felt like I was just reading history but that you're experience every loss up close. And having dealt with several losses in my own family, I really felt it. And the whole time, we know what's coming and you still don't want to see anymore tragedy fall on this family but there's no stopping it and it's just one gut punch after another. I tried so hard to keep it together but I just couldn't hold back the tears by the end. I was exhausted. Hats off to the actors, to the filmmakers, to the whole crew on this movie.
I had no idea of the story of the Von Erich family, only that it would apparently break my heart, and that there was a suicide in the family (no idea who it’d be at the time). After having just gotten out of the theater, the scene that’s sticking with me is actually when they’re at the college party, and the youngest son is playing with his band while singing how he wants to stay this way forever. Having that lingering knowledge that some real tragic shit was gonna go down, it was a beautifully haunting moment accompanied with a song I can’t get out of my head. That brother’s death scene was also the toughest to see, at least for me.
I grew up in Louisiana watching World Class Champion Wrestling as a kid long before it got broadcasted nationally on ESPN by the time I was in high school. It was an exciting style of a "Southern Wrestling" promotion that we were used to watching Mid-South and Georgia Wrestling on tv. The Von Erich's seemed like the First Family of Wrestling at the time. As I lost interest in wrestling, I just thought they had a string of tragic lost. This movie helped explain a lot of what was going on behind the curtains. It is a good movie with deep insight.
I grew watching the Von Erichs and WCCW/NWA back in the 80's. Frit's promotion "which is in Texas" was broadcasted nation wide. I found it why channel surfing on the UHF. I watched every time it was on TV. There were huge in Texas! The had to shut down six flags do to overcrowding on the day the Von Erichs went to the park. Their deaths sent shock waves throughout the wrestling community.
My main gripe is that physically, Zac Efron is more of a Kerry while Jeremy Allen White is more of a Kevin. But after watching the movie, there was no other way to do it. Kerry needed White’s angst. Zac was the believable farm boy white-meat babyface.
I saw Iron Claw yesterday and im still thinking about it today. Its a damn shame that in all likelihood this movie is gonna be left out come awards season. It deserves a nod 100 percent at least for Best Actor, and Best Original Song, the way the movie diegetically uses "Live That Way Forever" as the song Mike is playing with his band at he college party, almost foreshadowing all the terror to come, only to bring it back for the credits with almost a whole new meaning. The movie is done so well, the cinematography and directorial choices are spot on. There are at least 2 moments in that movie that didnt surprise me(Because i knew the story as a wrestling fan) but got genuine gasps from the audience, one of them due soley to the directorial and blocking choices made by Durkin. Stellar movie, although i may be a bit biased as a wrestling fan.
Are you saying that there's no Girl Boss in this movie?! The men aren't put down as weak!? Glad to see there are ideas for movies that can still move you emotionally. Great review!
