The A24 drama “The Iron Claw” chronicles the tragic rise and fall of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty. While the film features brothers Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike, noticeably absent is the youngest brother, Chris. This article explores the reasons behind Chris Von Erich’s omission from the movie.
Director Sean Durkin, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, explained his difficult decision to exclude Chris from the narrative. Durkin felt that including Chris’s struggles with asthma, brittle bone condition, and eventual suicide at age 21 would have added another layer of tragedy to an already heartbreaking story. He expressed concern that the film “couldn’t really withstand” another tragic element and might not have been made had Chris been included. Durkin described the decision as “an impossible choice” that he grappled with for an extended period, as Chris had been part of the script for five years.
Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich in The Iron Claw
The Von Erich family endured a series of devastating losses, often referred to as the “Von Erich curse.” David died unexpectedly in 1984 at 25, while both Mike and Kerry tragically died by suicide in 1987 and 1993, respectively. “The Iron Claw” portrays these events through the perspective of Kevin, the sole surviving brother.
Durkin’s decision to focus on the core narrative of the family’s journey led him to streamline the story. He believed that attempting to fully encapsulate every aspect of the Von Erich family’s complex history within the confines of a film would be impossible. This realization ultimately led to the exclusion of Chris’s story. He further revealed that he intentionally waited to contact Kevin Von Erich until after completing the script, emphasizing the need to separate the real-life individuals from the characters portrayed on screen. His goal was to craft a truthful and emotionally resonant film that captured the essence of the Von Erich saga, even if it meant making difficult choices about which aspects to include.
The film ultimately focuses on the core members of the wrestling dynasty and their struggles within the sport and their personal lives. By omitting Chris’s story, Durkin aimed to create a more focused and impactful narrative that remained true to the emotional core of the Von Erich family’s experience, while acknowledging the inherent limitations of adapting real-life events for the screen. “The Iron Claw” provides a poignant exploration of the Von Erich family’s legacy, highlighting the pressures of fame, the complexities of family relationships, and the devastating consequences of the “Von Erich curse.”
