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SOURCE-A24 Blu Ray
Of course I saw WCCW growing up in the 80s. It aired on some OTA religious channel we got. When I heard this film was being made I was excited. Then over the course of the film being made a pile of people I know got cast in it as extras.
As soon as it hit streaming I watched it and then bought this Blu ray not long after it came out.
The Von Erichs,according to the film,were 5 brothers. All sons of the legendary pro wrestler Fritz Von Erich. The oldest son died at a young age. The next 3 sons in age order all wanted to be wrestlers.
You had David,the tallest of them and the one people thought would go the furthest. He died in Japan. Rumored to be an over dose.
Then was Kevin. The only one still alive. He was known for wrestling barefoot and his odd style of promos.
Kerry is the best known to modern fans. He beat Ric Flair for the NWA world title. And had a short run in WWF as Texas Tornado. Kerry got in major trouble with the law. So instead of going to trial and facing jail time,Kerry instead shot and killed himself.
Of the brothers in the film Mike is the youngest. He was more into music and video production. But once David died Fritz needed a third for trios matches. Mike got toxic shock syndrome and almost died. Was rushed back into the ring. Then the killed himself by overdosing on purpose.
Notice how I keep saying according to the film. That is because there was 6 brothers. Chris was the youngest and not mentioned at all in the film. He wrestled for aa short bit. And killed himself.
Being the only brother still alive the film focus mostly on Kevin. With Zac Efron being a great Kevin. Jeremy Allen White,who I knew as Lip on Shameless ,is amazing as Kerry. Yea Jeremy is shorter than Kerry was. But he manages to capture Kerry.
The guys playing David and Mike I don't know from anything else.
While I do really love tthis movie it has some flaws. One thing is so much isn't explained. Like Kerry has a motorcycle wreck. Which damages his foot. Before it is fully healed Kerrry attempts to walk across his hospital room to get a hamburger and rumor is this is why Kerry's foot had to be removed. IN the film most of this isn't explained.
It feels like the director just assumed most watching the film will know the story. I guess so. But first time I watched it it was with someone that had no clue who the Von Erichs are. So more than a few times I had to pause the movie and explain stuff.
My other complaint is it is known that a pile of footage got cut from the film. None of these deleted scenes are on the Blu ray. Only extras are a 20 minute Q&A with the cast and Kevin Von Erich. Which is decent. Then a 29 minute BTS piece that isn't that good.
Worth watching even if you aren't a wrestling fan.The Iron Claw could have been so much better.
The Iron Claw gets a C+
