The Iron Claw: Meet the Von Erich family and learn about their curse ahead of the UK cinema release

It's been a tough week for wrestling to finish January with. The highs of learning that Netflix will be the official home of WWE's flagship Monday night show, Raw, alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson joining the TKO Board of Directors, and the unimaginable low of learning Vince McMahon's behaviour with a number of former WWE staff and "The Rock" seemingly pushing a younger talent aside to main event Wrestlemania 40.

This week, the United Kingdom sees the release of the long-awaited A24 biopic "The Iron Claw," starring Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White as two of the brothers of the world-famous Von Erich family; in their heyday they were considered the finest talent to ever emerge out of the wrestling territories of the 70s before Vince McMahon "killed" the idea of wrestling territories when he took over the-then WWF. They were also a family riddled with tragedy, with some believing that a curse was put upon the family due to their consistent misfortunes - and ultimately, the untimely deaths of a number of members.

As a wrestling fan, "The Iron Claw" gives a pretty accurate summary of the tragic circumstances that plagued one of wrestling’s first dynasties; from addiction, suicidal iteration and not “getting over” (a wrestling term for not garnering the reaction required from the fans), if the “Darkside Of The Ring” episode wasn’t gruelling enough for you, rest assured with A24 behind the production, there is going to be some dark overtones throughout the feature.

So who were the members of the Von Erich family, and are the portrayals in "The Iron Claw" the same as what happened to the members in real life?

Who were The Von Erich Family?

The Von Erich wrestling family is a legendary American wrestling dynasty that achieved fame and success in the world of professional wrestling. The family was led by patriarch Fritz Von Erich (real name Jack Adkisson), who was a wrestler himself and later became a successful promoter in Texas. Fritz had six sons, five of whom pursued careers in professional wrestling: David, Kevin, Kerry, Mike, and Chris.

Tragically, the Von Erich family experienced an extraordinary amount of personal and professional tragedies, earning them the unfortunate moniker of "The Curse of the Von Erichs." These traumatic events took a significant toll on the family and had a lasting impact on the wrestling community.

The first tragic loss was David Von Erich, who was widely regarded as the most talented wrestler among the brothers. He was a rising star in World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) and was poised for a successful career. However, on February 10, 1984, David was found dead in his hotel room while on a tour in Japan. The official cause of death was ruled as acute enteritis, but rumours and speculations about drug use and other factors surrounded his untimely passing.

Just months after David's death, another blow struck the family. On June 10, 1984, Mike Von Erich attempted suicide by overdosing on pills. He survived the attempt but struggled with health issues and depression for the rest of his life. Mike's health deteriorated, and he passed away on April 12, 1987, from an apparent toxic shock syndrome caused by a prescription painkiller.

In 1986, tragedy struck again when Kerry Von Erich, also known as "The Texas Tornado," was involved in a devastating motorcycle accident. As a result of the accident, Kerry's right foot had to be amputated. Despite this setback, he continued wrestling and even won the WWF Intercontinental Championship. However, the emotional toll from the accident and other personal struggles took a toll on Kerry. On February 18, 1993, he tragically took his own life by gunshot.

Chris Von Erich, the youngest of the brothers, also struggled with mental health issues and depression. On September 12, 1991, Chris ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. As if the family hadn't endured enough heartbreak, in 1997, another son, Mike's twin brother, Chris Jr., passed away from a drug overdose.

Who is starring in “The Iron Claw”?

Alongside Zac Efron, Lily James and Jeremy Allen White, the world of wrestling also will be involved in the production; IMDB lists current AEW Heavyweight Champion, Maxwell Jacob Friedman taking on the role of Lance Von Erich, while former WWE Tag Team and Cruiserweight champion Chavo Guerrero Jr - nephew of the late Eddie Guerrero - will take on the role of The Sheik.

• Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich

• Lily James as Pam Adkisson

• Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich

• Maura Tierney as Doris Von Erich

• Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich

• Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich

• Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich

• Maxwell Jacob Friedman as Lance Von Erich

• Brady Pierce as Michael Hayes

• Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair

• Kevin Anton as Harley Race

• Cazzey Louis Cereghino as Bruiser Brody

• Chavo Guerrero Jr. as The Sheik

• Ryan Nemeth as Gino Hernandez

When is “The Iron Claw” being released?

“The Iron Claw” will be released in the United Kingdom on Friday 9 February 90 2024