The Iron Claw: Did Kevin Von Erich Really Blame Fritz For His Brothers’ Deaths?

Summary The Iron Claw showcases the tragic story of the Von Erich brothers, with Kevin blaming his father for their untimely deaths.

Despite the film's success, Kevin has publicly defended his father, stating that drugs, not Fritz, were to blame for his brothers' deaths.

The intense climax between Kevin and Fritz in The Iron Claw captures the deep-seated pain and complex relationship within the Von Erich family.

The disheartening outcome of the Von Erich brothers in The Iron Claw leaves Kevin placing most of the blame on his father Fritz. The Iron Claw chronicles the tragic true story of the Von Erich brothers, who became one of the most legendary families in the history of professional wrestling. Zac Efron leads an exceptional cast in The Iron Claw as Kevin Von Erich, the second-born son and last living of the five Von Erich brothers.

Sean Durkin's film has been celebrated as one of the best wrestling movies ever made despite getting snubbed at the 2024 Oscars. As part of a family plagued by tragedy and a self-proclaimed curse, Kevin winds up blaming his overbearing father Fritz, played by Holt McCallany, for pushing his children too hard. As depicted in The Iron Claw, both Mike and Kerry die by suicide, and Kevin nearly strangles Fritz to death after finding Kerry's body. Another Von Erich brother, Chris, who was not acknowledged in the film whatsoever, also died by suicide.

Related The Meaning Behind Kerry’s Coin In The Iron Claw’s Afterlife Scene Explained The coin in The Iron Claw's afterlife scene is a brief but profound symbol of Kerry Von Erich's fate that sends a message to both Kevin & Fritz.

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Why Kevin Von Erich Blamed His Dad For His Brothers' Deaths In The Iron Claw

Kevin believed he pushed his kids too far and selfishly expected too much

After Kerry's death, Kevin goes after Fritz, blaming him for everything that has happened. Based on how The Iron Claw presents Fritz as a villain, putting wrestling over everything in life, it makes sense why Kevin blames his father. The moment in which Kevin is strangling Fritz is one of the most powerful scenes in the film. It feels as though Kevin's rage is the combination of his own sense of immense loss as well as sheer hatred for the man who gave his sons no other choice but to follow in his shoes.

Having Kevin attack Fritz is the perfect climax to The Iron Claw and is the most honest interaction between the two of them. It is interesting that Fritz expressed very little remorse or sense of responsibility in the deaths of his three other sons depicted in the film. Fritz, a religious man, justified their deaths as being simply the time that God wanted to take them to heaven. An afterlife scene at the end of The Iron Claw captures this sentiment, however, it appears to be a paradisical place in which the boys can finally be free outside of the iron claw of their father's expectations.

Related The Iron Claw: Why The US Boycotted The 1980 Summer Olympics Kerry Von Erich was robbed of his opportunity to compete in the 1980 Olympic Games, sending his life down a dark path as depicted in The Iron Claw.

The Real Kevin Von Erich Doesn't Think The Iron Claw Depicted Fritz Accurately

Kevin does not blame Fritz whatsoever for what happened to his brothers

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While this dynamic between Fritz and Kevin works perfectly in a movie that requires heroes and villains, the real-life Kevin Von Erich thought that The Iron Claw cast his father in a darker light than he was in reality. Von Erich responded publicly to The Iron Claw in defense of Fritz, saying "My dad was a great man. I loved him so much. He was an honorable, good man. What he said, his word was his bond. When you shook his hand, it was a contract, it was honorable."

Von Erich continued, "I want everyone to know he comes off pretty rank in this movie." Kevin also made it clear that he does not blame Fritz at all for the deaths of his brothers by suicide and that drugs held the most blame, a detail that was left out of The Iron Claw. "Drugs did it. That, and the fact that Kerry lost his foot and wouldn't be able to come back. Mike, with that fever, he was not coming back. It was a hopeless feeling inside to let everyone down and you just feel like dirt. All my brothers were super loyal, and that's what it was, the shame and guilt for failing. It was not my dad." (via Talk Is Jericho podcast).

Related The Iron Claw: Is The Real Kevin Von Erich Still Involved In Wrestling? Kevin Von Erich's pro wrestling career extends far outside of his time in the ring, leading to his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.