The Iron Claw: Is the film based on true story as wrestling film lands on Prime Video
The popular sports film The Iron Claw has finally been released on Prime Video. The A24 flick, which was released internationally in late 2023 and in the UK in early 2024, focuses on the Von Erich family of wrestlers and their success and tragedy.
The flick stars Zac Efron, The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and Pam & Tommy’s Lily James and covers their sporting success, but also trauma, toxic parenting and oppressive masculinity. The film highlights a curse plaguing their family and subjecting them to various tragedies.
If you were unable to watch The Iron Claw in cinemas, the film will be available to stream on Prime Video from today (Friday, July 12).
With the film being released online, many will be wondering whether the film is based on a true story and who has been depicted accurately in the film. Major spoilers follow.
Is the Iron Claw a true story?
In short - yes. The Iron Claw is a dramatisation of the family’s history and dramatic licence is taken throughout the film.
The film focuses on the true story of Texas NWA Heavyweight Champion Kevin Von Erich, played by Zac Efron, and his brothers Kerry Von Erich and David Von Erich, as they rise to the top of the professional wrestling world in the early 1980s.
The family patriarch and former wrestler Jack “Fritz” Von Erich drove them to thrive in wrestling and dominate the sport. Yet their determination came during some tragedies in their personal lives thanks to a perceived curse.
Four of the six brothers – David, played by Harris Dickinson, Mike, played by Stanley Simons, Chris and Kerry died between 1984 and 1993. David died due to enteritis and the other three died by suicide.
Chris Von Erich was also a wrestler like his brothers, but he wasn’t included in The Iron Claw. His health conditions, namely asthma and a brittle bone condition, affected his wrestling career and he died by suicide in 1991.
Writer-director Sean Durkin confirmed Chris was written into The Iron Claw but he removed the brother in the final draft when he felt the film’s heavier moments might overwhelm viewers.
“The movie just couldn’t withstand another brother’s death,” Durkin told Vulture. “It’s hard to say this from a human level but from a narrative and character standpoint, there’s a repetition that’s just hard to take.”
There are a few historical inaccuracies and other omissions in the film, including Fritz and his wife Doris separating in real life.
But one of the major themes and suggestions from The Iron Claw is Fritz Von Erich was a wrestling patriarch who ruled over his family with an iron claw and was overly domineering. Kevin Von Erich was unhappy with the depiction of his father and disagreed with its suggestion that his forceful nature influenced his brothers’ suicides.
He described the film as not being “historical” and told podcast This is Jericho: “He was an honourable, good man.
“What he said, his word was his bond. When you shook his hand, it was a contract, it was honourable. I want everyone to know he comes off pretty rank in this movie.”
He described The Iron Claw as not being “historical” and rejected the film’s implication that Fritz’s forceful nature had any influence on his brothers’ suicides.
The Iron Claw is now streaming on Prime Video.
