Spoilers! Why Zac Efron 'lost it' in emotional ending scene of new movie 'The Iron Claw'
Spoiler alert! We're discussing important plot points and the ending of the true-life wrestling drama âThe Iron Clawâ (in theaters now). So beware if you havenât seen it yet.
âThe Iron Clawâ tells the tragic story of the Von Erich pro wrestling family in an emotionally stirring fashion, but writer/director Sean Durkin gives the grappling brothers a bittersweet, somewhat otherworldly happy ending.
Based on a true story, the movie centers on Kevin Von Erich (played by Zac Efron) and his struggles to survive the sad circumstances that befall his Texas clan in the 1980s and â90s. First, he loses his brother David (Harris Dickinson), who dies from a ruptured intestine while wrestling in Japan, and later siblings Mike (Stanley Simons) and Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) die by suicide.
While âIron Clawâ is realistic in its narrative, there are moments where Durkin tends toward the metaphysical. In one scene, the ghost of David sits on the steps in the family house as mom Doris (Maura Tierney) watches Kerry win the heavyweight championship on TV â she looks back, feeling a presence behind her, but no oneâs there.
'World champion of the afterlife': Von Erich brothers share a heavenly reunion in 'The Iron Claw'
Near the end of the film, following Kerryâs death, Kevin looks outside as he sits next to his brotherâs body. Kerry walks from the family ranch house and does a happy jump with both of his legs intact â he'd lost his right foot in a motorcycle accident. He drifts in a boat toward a dock where his late brothers await him. In a heavenly clearing, he has a heartfelt group hug with David and Mike â âWorld champion of the afterlife, huh?â Kerry quips to David â and then sees young Jack Jr., the firstborn brother who was accidentally electrocuted and drowned at age 6 in 1959. âNice to meet you,â says Kerry, picking up the boy and sharing another group embrace.
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âThe mythical nature of wrestling and this family, it's unreal,â Durkin says. âHaving something heightened in this world felt right.â
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When Dickinson read the script for the first time, he says he was âalways wonderingâ how the stair scene would be done, âbut I think Sean did it in such a delicate way that I was very trusting.â With the more spiritual elements of the film, âhe was really trying to show and give respect to the tragedy that these guys went through,â the actor says. âUltimately, it is about the resilience of human spirit and the love of brothers.â
Durkin wanted to give the Von Erichs âtheir reunionâ and âit felt right to give Kerry his final image,â he says. âWhat he imagined was going to happen was that he was going to walk again, and it was going to be with his brothers. That was the right journey for them.â
It was also important to the director that the Von Erichs, raised by father Fritz (Holt McCallany) in an environment of toxic masculinity, share a âtenderâ moment ânot weighed down by the ideas of like if men are going to hug, they better hug this way with a quick pat on the back. It was gentle. They touched each other's faces. It was just a different way of communicating that I felt was much more pure.â
When reading the scene for the first time, White recalls âfeeling like I could breathe again. There's just tragedy after tragedy, and there was tightness in my chest throughout reading the script. Then, where was this sense of relief because I saw these brothers get something they really deserved, especially the moment with Jack.â
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As Kevin Von Erich, Zac Efron turned on the waterworks for final 'Iron Claw' scene
Kevinâs final scene is a more grounded one but just as emotionally affecting: He sits on the ground watching his two boys play football in the yard just like the Von Erichs did as kids, and tears flow down his face. They ask if heâs all right, and Kevin responds, âIâm sorry, boys. You shouldnât see me like this. A man doesnât cry.â But his sons tell him itâs OK, everybody cries â a lesson Kevin's dad never taught him.
âI used to be a brother, and now Iâm not a brother anymore,â Kevin tells them when his children ask why heâs sad. âWeâll be your brothers, Dad,â they both say before Kevin gets up and plays with them.
Efron says the scene came near the end of production, after he built bonds with and said goodbye to his fellow actors, plus navigated Kevinâs heartbreaking character arc. âIt all really did hit home, man. I didn't really have to do much prep for that scene. It just kind of took over. I lost it. I thought for sure Sean was going to be like, âAll right, bring it in. Keep it together, bro. It's too much.â But it felt honest in that moment.â
Durkin wanted Efron to keep the emotion bottled up as much as possible before letting go in a cathartic fashion. âHe was just all filled up with water at that point,â the director says. âIt was like seven takes of five minutes of crying. It was endless. He just could keep going. (But) it was very, very beautiful.â
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