The Von Erich Brothers: Unveiling the Number

The film "The Iron Claw" by Lionsgate and A24 explores the story of the four Von Erich brothers - Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike, along with their parents. However, it also raises the question of whether there was a fifth Von Erich brother.

Fitz Von Erich, portrayed by Holt McCallany, sought to continue the family's wrestling legacy with his sons, with the hope of achieving household wrestling fame for the Von Erichs. He was determined to see his sons receive the title opportunities that he never had, but his intense grip on them only added to the lore surrounding the Von Erich curse.

Introducing the four Von Erich brothers in The Iron Claw: Kevin (played by Zac Efron), the oldest, followed by David (played by Harris Dickinson), Kerry (played by Jeremy Allen White), and Mike (played by Stanley Simons.) Despite their close bond, fans may be surprised to learn that there is more to the Von Erich story. It turns out that Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike were not the only Von Erichs.

The Iron Claw purposely left out one brother

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There were a total of six Von Erich brothers, but The Iron Claw director Sean Durkin chose to leave out the story of Chris Von Erich. Even though Kevin may seem like the oldest brother, he is actually the second-born son to Fritz and his wife. The eldest brother, Jack Adkisson Jr., was born in 1952 and tragically died at the age of six due to an accident. In 1959, in Niagara Falls, Jack was electrocuted after stepping on a trailer tongue and fell into a puddle, drowning. The Iron Claw begins with a flashback of Fritz as a wrestler with his two sons - Jack and Kevin.

In a later scene, Kevin confides in Pam that he is not the oldest sibling and reveals that Jack was not around to play with when they were younger due to his passing. Kevin was born in 1957 and took on the role of big brother to his younger siblings after Jack's death. Following Kevin's birth, David Von Erich was born on July 22, 1958, just a year later. Kerry arrived a few years after on February 3, 1960, in Niagara Falls, New York. In Texas, Fritz and his wife welcomed their fifth son, Michael, on March 2, 1964.

The Iron Claw primarily follows the four main brothers but notably omits the youngest brother, Chris Von Erich, who was born in Texas on September 30, 1969. Entertainment Weekly reported that director Sean Durkin initially included Chris in the movie's script but ultimately decided to cut him out for narrative purposes, choosing to focus more closely on the three brothers.

"It was one of the hardest choices I had to make," he reflected. "The Godfather has enough material for nine hours on this family. I had to pick and choose what would fit into a movie." Durkin went on to explain that he incorporated elements of Chris into Mike, as they were both younger brothers surrounded by older, muscular brothers.

Read more TV & Movies content here, and Dexerto’s review of The Iron Claw here.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate fan of the Von Erich family and their legendary impact on the world of professional wrestling, I am both intrigued and slightly disappointed by the recent revelations surrounding the upcoming film "The Iron Claw." While I understand the creative decisions behind focusing on the four main brothers - Kevin, David, Kerry, and Mike - I can't help but feel a sense of loss regarding the omission of Chris Von Erich.

Chris, the youngest of the six Von Erich brothers, played a significant role in the family's wrestling legacy, both in terms of his in-ring career and the overall narrative of the Von Erich story. His inclusion in the film would have added depth and complexity to the portrayal of the family's struggles and triumphs. While I appreciate the director's desire to streamline the narrative, I believe that Chris's absence leaves a noticeable gap in the exploration of the Von Erich legacy.