Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Actor Zac Efron stars as real-life wrestler Kevin Von Erich in A24’s wrestling dramaThe Iron Claw. Based on the infamous Von Erich family, the film is directed by Sean Durkin and explores the tragic lives of professional wrestlers. The film premiered in Dallas and is all set to release on December 22.
Efron’s portrayal of the last surviving member of the tragic Von Erich family is being praised as one of his best performances to date. TheHigh School Musicalstar plays Kevin Von Erich and was personally endorsed by the real-life wrestling star. Fans are also appreciating the film for its portrayal of the real-life tragedy. Spoilers ahead for the film.
Also read:Real Reason Kenny Ortega Thought Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens Will Sink High School Musical
The Tragic Story Of Kevin Von Erich
Sean Durkin’s poignant drama about the infamous Von Erich wrestling family is based on the tragedy known as the ‘Von Erich Curse’. The film follows the family patriarch Fritz Von Erich, who began the tradition of becoming a professional wrestler in the family. The patriarch is portrayed by Holt McCallany in the film. Fritz Von Erich passed away in 1997 due to cancer.
Zac Efronportrays the second and only surviving son of the family, Kevin Von Erich, who was successful like his father in the professional wrestling world. Jeremy Allen White, known for his performance inThe Bear, portrays Kerry Von Erich, the fourth son of the family and the most successful wrestler, known as the Texas Tornado.
The ‘Von Erich Curse’ refers to the untimely and premature deaths of all but one son of Fritz Von Erich before his own death in 1997. His first son Jack lost his life at the age of six after getting electrocuted and drowning in a melting snow puddle. Kerry Von Erich passed away at the age of thirty-three after shooting himself with a gun.
David, the third son of the family, also passed away after suffering complications from enteritis. However, many of his wrestling colleagues believed that he died of a drug overdose. The fifth son of the family, Mike, also died after taking a fatal dose of tranquilizers, while the sixth son, Chris, died after shooting himself in the heart with a handgun at the age of twenty-one.
Also read:“They were making out on and off for…”: The High School Musical Star Zac Efron Reportedly Made Out With Post-breakup
Zac Efron’s Performance As Kevin Von Erich
Despite being in the industry for a long time, Zac Efron is yet to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor. He received his breakthrough when he starred in the Disney-producedHigh School Musicalfranchise. Efron then went on to star in a few romantic comedies such as17 Againand romance dramas such asMe and Orson Welles.
The actor received some acclaim for playing the role of Philip Carlyle, a playwright who becomes an entertainer in the Hugh Jackman starrerThe Greatest Showman. Efron also received acclaim for starring as Ted Bundy in the filmExtremely Wicked, Shockingly, Evil, and Wile.
Also read:Unlike Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White Admitted It Was Not “Physically possible” For Him To Play Kerry Von Erich
The actor then underwent a physical transformation for the role of Kevin Von Erich in Sean Durkin’sThe Iron Claw. He spoke about the doubts he had while playing the role and the physical transformation it demanded in an interview withEntertainment Tonight,
“It was shocking at every point of the transformation. I remember Harris [Dickinson] and I were walking out of hair and make-up and it was like the first time we had to wear the full kit, and we were both thinking, ‘What the hell are we doing here, man? How did we get into this?'”
Fans of the film have appreciated Efron’s beautiful performance in the film and some have even termed it to be his best performance in his career.
#TheIronClawreminds us how to find beauty in life after tragedy. The true story of the Von Erich family is brought to life with tender care by director Sean Durkin.The entire cast is incredible, but Zac Efron holds everything together in his most powerful performance yet.pic.twitter.com/7rte9H1fS1
And Jeremy Allen white putting on powerful performance as well ! He deserves credit very slept on actor
#TheIronClawis one of the most tragic/compelling stories told this year. Sean Durkin sure knows how to make the afterlife look gorgeous. This was a great film about brotherhood and toxic masculinity. As a wrestling fan, I was very pleased. Zac Efron delivered a career best…pic.twitter.com/ZHkgezX3vf
“#TheIronClawleaves us with an ethereal, moving vision of the sweet hereafter that would have been over-saccharine in any other film, but in Durkin’s hands is heartfelt and genuine.”Read our full review below:https://t.co/evgicmouhs
The actor’s efforts were reportedly validated by the real Kevin Von Erich himself, who approved of his performance and technique after the premiere of the film.
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2417
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
