Wrestling is a lot of things to many people.
A Sport for the Athletic, a Business for Promotors, A hobby for fans, a Spectacle, and a place for those who had nothing else.
For the Von Erich Family in Texas for 3 generations, it was That and More.
The Adkisson family-Professionally known as the Von Erichs, were the stars of their family's wrestling territory- World Class Wrestling, managed in the 80's by Jack "Fritz" Von Erich. At this time, Fritz's sons-Kerry, Kevin, David and Mike were set to be the biggest stars in Texas, where in that early decade of the 80's, The National Expansion by the then WWF was years away. And in the Lone Star State, the Von Erichs were famous, they sold out arenas more than any Rockstar and had more female fans than any Teen Heart-throb!
But with great Success comes Great Tragedy, as One-By-One, a Brother had to see his family suffer time and again!
The Cover art is nice and Understated. Black Background and sepia tone lighting give Efron, Dickinson and Allen-White a larger than life presence.
THE FOLLOWING FILM IS RATED 15 AND CONTAINS DESCRIPTIONS OF BLOOD, OPERATIONS, STEROIDS, AND SUICIDES, THE LATTER WILL HAVE TRIGGER WARNINGS. CERTAIN WORDS HAD TO BE CENSORED FROM THIS POINT ON TO GET THE REVIEW OUT.
The Film opens with a black and white panoramic view of a Ring, as it starts to fade in a shot of Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) in his later career beating an unseen opponent as the Ref tries to pull him out of the corner. The Music for this sequence needs Mention as the Fade In is timed with a string section in tension while every strike by Fritz is punctuated with a Drum beat. The scene is now played in real time as Fritz had bloodied his opponent to loud Boos. He holds up his hand to signal for his finisher, the Iron Claw, a Submission move where the Von Erichs would squeeze the Head of the opponent.
Yes, it sounds silly to non wrestling fans, but it's about believability. If I based my style on leaving my opponents a pile of Butchered Meat every night, then is anyone is gonna point out that my Lil' Head Squeeze is as Phoney as A Cuckoo's Nest?
After the Match, Jack is feeling his age. He meets his wife and 2 of his young sons, Kevin and David after the show in the Parking lot. Mrs Von Erich, (Maura Tierney) Pregnant with their Fifth son, has the Shock of her life when she sees their trailer pulled by a Cadillac. She's furious that Jack would splurge so much money on a sports car with a child on the way, even if it's a rental. But Jack tells her his star on the rise and with it coming, (The title shot) you have to be Stronger, Tougher, Better, to rely on family than anyone else in life as his sons listen on!
And I'm sure This will not Bite the family in the Ass Later On, At all (!)
Jack ends his speech by saying he will win the NWA Heavyweight Championship "And Noone Will Hurt us again" - as Mrs Von Erich prays under her Breath.
We Time skip to a decade later into full colour, as an Alarm Clock wakes up an Adult Kevin Addison. (Zac Efron) His Rest was not a peaceful one, as he Struggles with pain. He shares a Bedroom still with David (Harris Dickenson), He tells his half asleep brother he's going for a run. In the Intermediate time between the 60s and 1979, the Von Erichs secured a house, where we learn they are a Conservative, God fearing family as both a family portrait and a Cross hang over cabinets of handguns and Sporting Trophies.
As Kevin had his run, he monologues his Story. He believes his Family suffers from a Curse. That his parents tried to protect him and his Brothers from it- Mom with Prayer, and Dad with Wrestling. His Creed that being Strongest and toughest, meant you are untouchable, and they believed them, and it has lead them to Pushing themselves harder, because by now, it paid off, the Von Erichs now ran World Class and it made local television.
It's now 1979 and Kevin, the Eldest Child of Four has more to prove because he sets the example. Despite winning the Texas Heavyweight Championship, Kevin is hurt, and hurt badly.
Over Breakfast, Fritz Berates the Fitness of Youngest son, Mike, who says he'll just have one of his brothers to back him up, if he is in trouble.
FORESHADOWING!
Fritz Being "Father of the year" says despite Kerry being an Olympic Hopeful, Kevin, the Texas Champion, and David about to debut, he reminds his sons that, And I Quote "The Ranking on who's my Favourite son is subject to change!"
During Farmwork, (their wealth also letting them buy the land around the ranch.) David and Kevin overhear Dad berate Mike, so Kevin asks Mom if she can say anything to Dad. Mom says it's their problem to sort out. And while She is right, it's harsh in Hindsight knowing what happened next.
We Focus on the other Aspect of the Von Erichs' upbringing-Religion, though that really consists of them in nice clothes sitting in the pews as others sing hymns around them. After Church, the sons return to normalcy, hanging out with friends, eating takeaway and tubing down the river, despite the Tough love from Dad and Cold Shoulder from Mom, the Von Erich boys can't go anywhere without girls congregating around them.
We cut to a world class TV taping, As Kevin is interviewed ahead of a tag match, the one where David will debut, however behind the Camera, it's David who is making Kevin flub his lines with funny noises and faces, causing retake after retake.
It's another packed Friday Night at the Dallas Sportatorium, as Backstage, the Von Erichs and their opponents go through the finish of the match. As David gets the win on his professional debut, Fritz looks on in the wings with a critical eye and a wry smile.
As always after the matches, Girls Gaggle at the carpark wanting Autographs, until one woman, Pam (Lily James) is a bit more abrasive than the easily rattled blushing schoolgirls that usually ask for eight-by-tens. Kevin's mind is miles away, but is when she asks him out to dinner, it surprises him.
In Fritz's office, Bill Mercer, the Announcer has good news for Fritz, ESPN has offered A national television deal to World Class over the WWF, with promises from the other NWA territories to bring in stars to Texas for this show on a weekly basis, the only thing that will seal the deal with the other Heads of the Territories, is a Texan World Champion, and with Kevin as the State's Champion, He's a Shoe-in for the job.
Meanwhile Kevin and Pam are on a date in a diner, when a fan comes up from autograph, which Kevin signs. Pam asks him, if he really is that Famous, Kevin laughs it off by saying only in Texas-They use to be on the Road, but not as much Since they got the TV show. Pam outs herself by not being a fan, by asking if wrestling is fake, which Kevin is offended by, Pam backtracks by asking him instead what does he want in life, to which he immediately says "World Heavyweight Champion" without hesitation. He explains easily to Pam the Territory system of the World's Championship (SAVES ME FROM DOING IT!), and the Hierarchy of the separate territories heavyweight champions, but he equates his belt to having a worthless accolade on a office worker's résumé that's only really good for promoting yourself before All others up the chain of command. That's All He Wants (What Fritz Wants!) To be the best and have his family with him. Pam is more straight forward-She wants to settle down and start a family, and Kevin is all for it- He'll spring for their own ranch and have his brothers live there until they get married! Pam laughs it off by saying Kevin has Big Brother Syndrome-He wants to take care of everyone. Kevin reveals a secret to Pam, he's not the oldest brother. When he was 5, his older brother, Jack Jr died. Though the doesn't remember how, he was too young to process and Grieve. Pam gets up from her chair and hugs him. He says it's because of the family Curse!
The utterance of a Family Curse confuses Pam. And Kevin doesn't fully buy it either, but you see as I said above, the Adkisson family changed their name to Von Erich to play German Heels, which was Fritz's mother in law's name, who themselves had Woe-Be-Tied to their name. And by taking their name, Fritz believes they took the Curse Wholesale.
Pam believes that we make our own luck in life. Something Kevin starts to believe when he visits his father, who has Good news-The World Champion, Harley Race-is Coming for a limited Run in World Class- And it's Gonna be Against Kevin!
By Virtue of winning the State championship recently, NWA must honour giving any new state champion by offering a world's title shot. Despite Fritz's Success, he was never world's champion, So the Pressure is intensified.
Harley Race (Kevin Afton) is on his Fourth Reign as NWA World's champion, he is a Formidable Island to himself, as Future Greats like Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Rich all want what he wears on his shoulders-the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship.
It's the night of the Pilot on ESPN with the main event match packing the Sportatorium to it's rafters. Kevin is granted a match with Race...A NON-TITLE MATCH! Harley was a well respected wrestler because he made it look real, and he didn't suffer fools gladly, if you were in a match with Harley, he was never going to put up with gimmicks or Silly moves, Or the Beating you took was going to be worse! Keep in Mind Kevin had being hiding Injuries since the First Scene, and Being thrown to the Outside concrete floor is Not Helping Matters. Kevin can Barely Get in the Ring to Answer the 10 count. Despite a heroic Showing, the plan was changed without the Von Erich's approval, from a Straight loss by Pinfall to a Disqualification Win. David breaks it up and hands Kevin a Microphone to cut a promo, But Kevin's Gasping worries Fritz so David grabs the mic to finish the promo, And it saves the family rep.
Backstage David is sitting with Kevin with his ribs taped, when Fritz comes in all Angry. Kevin explains Harley changed the Toss to the Outside Shot without his knowledge. It was Suppose to be over the Middle Rope, not the Bottom Rope, Meaning Kevin Could not React in time, Fritz checks if the injuries are real, and concludes the NWA are testing Kevin in the same way he was, and why he believes the promotion has a Vendetta against his family! He's happy about what David did, and the company want him to tour.
When Fritz leaves, Kevin Tears into David on Stealing his Thunder.
Meanwhile Kerry Von Erich (Jeremy Allen-White) is Training to Represent America in Discus in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Of course for those who don't remember or are too young to, That was the Year of the American Boycott, in protest of Russia invading Afghanistan. This causes Fritz to break-down Further in his mind!
Still they welcome Kerry Home with a banner and a Barbecue and the Brothers play some football with Dad to let go of some steam...Though the Tackles get rougher and Mike gets more flak against him!
During Dinner Which is the first Time the Family Meets Pam, Kerry asks when Kevin is getting his Title rematch. There is silence, until Dad says he's working on it! Kerry changes the Subject and asks Mike about his Music. Turns out Mike is very Adept with many instruments...A Trait, Mrs. Von Erich tell us comes from Fritz, He had a Music Scholarship, but gave it up for Football ("Everyone Knows there is No Future in Music!") So Even Upon that statement, Mike says his Band has a Gig at the local College Grounds, Mom says absolutely not...So Mike sneaks out that night with help from his brothers and Pam. Mike plays his gig, While Kevin and Pam sneak out for "Privacy" in their truck. But Kevin has a Confession...It will be his first time!
Sometime later Fritz is watching Wrestling on tv and Sees Ric Flair has won the world's title over Kevin's Rematch. This infuriates Fritz to no end, who convinces Kerry to join the Family Business ("They took the Olympics away from you, just like they took Football from me, the World Keeps Wanting to take from us, and I AM SICK OF IT!")
And it couldn't have come sooner, as With Kerry in tow, there is now a three man team that can square off with the Fabulous Freebirds and Catapult All Six men into Southern State Urban Legend, Both for Sublime In ring Action, Outrageous Storylines and C**aine-fuelled Wild Behaviour-But Despite The latter, the Money Stacks Up, Kevin and Pam Buy a House and Fritz pushes his sons further. And though the World's Title is Forever out of the Von Erich's Reach, Thanks to ESPN And Wrestling Magazines They gain every bit of National Fame. It's the family's Best Year in 1983, When the 3 Brothers win the Six-Man Tag Team Championships from their Rivals, The Freebirds.
After the Match, Fritz gets into the ring and despite the Celebration, He can't leave it alone!- He calls out NWA President Sam Muchnik By Name and announces That David will be World's Champion, Then Kerry, then Kevin.......AND THEN MIKE!
Fritz has become every bit of the monster he hates, he has On National Television, taken away the thing Mike Loves!
David Whispers to Kevin "I don't think Dad Meant to say I get the Belt First", only for Fritz to turn and ask if there is a problem, as the screen fades to black.
As the screen fades back in, Kerry Is injecting himself, as the Three brothers line up to hear Dad's News. David is getting the Title shot against Ric Flair, however Due to his Outburst on TV, David will fight Flair In Non Title matches all over the country and then take a tour of Japan. He then takes a knee and passive Aggressively states the others "Did their Bit" to push David Up and to do more of it!
We Cut to some time later, at Kevin and Pam's Wedding and everyone is celebrating...until Kevin finds David in the men's room vomiting blood. Kevin asks David to Slow down, But David wants the world title first. To wit, Kevin says Dad will only push harder when he wins it. Kevin Suggests David not go to Japan. He tells him he forgives him for what happened during the Harley Race match and tells him he loves him. He loves being in the ring as a family. It's the only thing that matters....to him, NOT DAD! He was going to give this speech later in front of everyone but he lets David know he has a Surprise-Pam is Pregnant! And David is so happy he's going to be an uncle!
David would never meet the baby.
On February the 10th, 1984, David Von Erich was found dead in his hotel room in Japan. The cause of death was a Ruptured Intestine Due to Diverticulitis. He was only 25.
When Fritz tells Kevin the news, he pretends not to know. In another Display of Toxic Masculinity , Fritz rips the Sunglasses off Kerry to make sure noone sees any of his sons crying, he also calls the Death "The lord's work" upsetting Mrs Von Erich in her room. Kevin finds a Postcard addressed to him from David from Japan Written days before, David Oblivious to his Sudden demise later, he wrote saying that The Japanese thought David was Kevin and how he can't wait to have Kevin over here with him. He can just tell this all this himself, because by the time the letter is deliver he should be home by now. And yes David Returns to Texas as a hero.... but not like this!
Pam finds Kevin in the bedroom he and David shared all their life. Beaten up about the death. That night on the porch, Dad says David's title shot is In his hands and a Von Erich WILL Face Ric Flair at Parade Of The Champions, But Kevin and Kerry both want it, So the only fair way to settle it, is for Fritz to flip a coin. It spins in the air and the screen fades to black.
Time skips to Backstage and we see wrestling boots, given Kevin wrestled Barefoot all his career, it's Kerry who won the coin toss. At home, Mom watches the match, but she is not alone, as David's Ghost is sitting on the stairs, until she turns her head when she feels she's being watched.
Kerry with David's name emblazoned on his jacket, defeats Ric Flair and becomes world champion.
Kevin finds Kerry In The kitchen in the dark drinking and still not believing he won. He tells Kevin he going for a ride on his motorbike. As Kevin sits and wonders what's next for him, Tragedy strikes again, when a drunk Kerry can't see straight.
He cut to the aftermath of the accident, where we are spared to what also happened to Kerry's Severed Foot. The Urban Legend is Kerry's Foot was Reattached via surgery and was told not to put pressure On the foot, only to get on a Push Pedal motorcycle, he started the bike with the injured foot, speeds off one direction while the Foot flew in the opposite direction! Kevin is registering His Son Marshall's Birth certificate he wants to register his name as Adkisson. He wants to give his son the choice later on, but in truth, he's afraid of the Curse.
Kevin and Kerry are training Mike, but Mike doesn't have it at all, so when Mike is thrust into the Limelight he twists his wrist while landing during a Dropkick.
What was Supposed to be a Simple shoulder surgery, has become a life or death situation. Mike had come into Hospital with a 200° fever and is now in a coma, Due to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Kevin is rattled that 3 tragedies have hit them in 3 years as Pam tries to calm her husband down. If he wants someone to blame, blame Fritz. At Home Kevin is too despondent to care for the baby.
Mike Pulls through and the family arranges a press conference. Mike had Suffered a Brain injury and nerve damage, all the while Fritz does nothing but stares at Mike as he always does.....As a Disappointment!
The Family Dinner Since Mike's Recovery happens and the mood is tense, the cries of the baby Breaks the Silence. Professionally Kevin is now treated as a Midcarder, too low to challenge for belts but important enough to build new stars. In a tag match were his "Cousin" Lance (Lance was an unrelated Bodybuilder that Fritz hired solely to replace Mike "in the family", as claiming him to be a cousin will not make the family lose face!) did all the Work (A Cameo by Then AEW World champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman) Kevin retires to a ramshackle Bedsit in a tour truck.
Kerry has good news, he's fitted with a Prosthetic foot, but the joy is soon diminished when he can't walk normally, let alone wrestle. Mike is found by mom staring blankly at a painting they had for years. Mom says that she painted it, it's a picture of her childhood house. Mike asks why did she stop painting, if she was so good. She says she "Forgotten the reason", But given what happens in her final scene, it was no doubt Strongarmed by Fritz wanting her to just be a wife and mother. Mike blurts out "I'm not David!" He knows that he could never replace David, in the ring or in anyone's eyes. That night Mike plays in his beloved guitar, but the nerve damage is too much, as Kerry is Frustrated during a training match with Kevin that his body is not doing what he tells it too. Kevin is trying to tell him to slow down to take the accident as something greater than himself telling him to take it easy, to which Kerry replies with "So Dad Can give you all his love?" Kerry is lying on the Mat helpless until Kevin helps him up. All the while behind them a faint light passes them, it's Mike walking in the dark with a sleeping Bag and a lantern.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR SUICIDE
We hear his last words from his suicide note he left.
After a long search by Family and Police, on April the 12th 1987, Michael Von Erich's body was found in a field wrapped in a sleeping bag. The cause of death was determined to be an overd*se of Sedatives. He was 23.
 |
| "For the most part, the casting of this film has being great, but I'm Sorry, But Aaron Eisenberg, is too thin to pay Eighties Ric Flair, and while Flair can be Histrionic and Loud in his promos, Ric had Base in his Voice, and the Woo!, the famous "Woo!" has no Oomph to it!" |
The thought of a funeral so soon had Spooked Doris (This was the only time her name has being given to this point!) She has only one black dress, and she's worried that the town will think the family are a bunch of cheapskates! Pam finds her and shakes her out of her funk! Kevin doesn't know if the family wants him to stay the night, but Pam with Marshall getting Fussy in her arms argues that he should come home with her, Kevin picks his Parents over his Own Family. And just like that Fritz had what he always watched, a focused son with no baggage, as Kevin trains, he repeats the opening monologue and Soon Kevin is challenging for the World title once more, this time against Ric Flair in 1986. Who's televised jeers of "Daddy's Boy!" Sets off Kevin who enters the ring and Steamrolls "The Nature Boy"! The usually Clean Cut Milk Drinking Baby-face, has lost it! Kevin puts the Iron Claw on Flair and bursts him open in the opening minutes, causing a Disqualification.
Backstage in familiar territory, the Von Erichs think they are Screwed out of the Title Picture, until Flair walks in....happy as Larry! For the 2% of people who don't know who Ric Flair is, as famous as he is for holding the Most title reigns In History...he is also famous for having scar tissue in his forehead that's as Strong as Wet Kleenex! He doesn't mind that he's bleeding. He's Fine! Knowing he's Bleeding means he can get Drunk Quicker at the Club later!
Despite Ric Saying he'll see that Kevin gets the rematch he deserves after Growing a Set...Kevin finds Pam and Marshall at home and Retires...years go by, the Eighties bow out for the Nineties. And Kevin is the model stay at home Dad while it's Pam who returns to work. The family welcomed a Second Son, Ross, but their new home is far too small for two growing boys. There is only one thing for it, a Return to the ring!
There is only one problem with that!
The WWF's National Expansion has Came and went in the 80s. What that meant was when WWF broke from being the NWA'S Eastern Seaboard Territory, it started to headhunt top stars from the Territories to add to its roster, Kerry included! The NWA combined it's remaining resources into the Carolinas And it's Strongest Promotion, Jim Crockett Promotions, before it was Sold to Ted Turner to become World Championship Wrestling! However because of Fritz's constant undermining of the NWA, they decided to leave World Class to Shrivel up and die! So Fritz sells it Kevin, but Kevin is going to sell World Class back to the NWA, this angers Fritz, But Kevin learned something when going through expenses. Fritz has being cooking the books for years!
Kerry wins the WWF intercontinental championship at SummerSlam (at the time, Considered the Number 2 belt WRESTLING HAS TOO MANY CHAMPIONSHIPS!) His reign goes through Christmas of that year where all family are gathered for Christmas Dinner, But Fritz won't stop Publicly Shaming Kevin for his betrayal. Kerry is not staying-he's on tour to Mexico in the morning so he hands Dad his present, a Smith & Wesson Pistol which Fritz puts away rather than seeing if it works, given the tension in room.
Later on in the new year of 1993, after Kerry loses the belt, Kerry rings Kevin In the Middle of the night, he's in so much pain, the Ste*oids and the Pills don't work. He's being let go of his contract, and he's scared! Kevin wants to help and wants Kerry to see Reason, but he can't let his children see him like this, but Kerry rambles on saying Kevin wouldn't know how to help because he's "HAD IT EASY!" Kevin turns the other cheek and asks where he is, causing Kerry to hang up, Kevin calls Fritz asks if he knows where Kerry is staying, there is a Pregnant Pause, until Fritz says he's not getting involved in a Problem they can sort out. Kevin holds his tongue and just asks his Father to Keep an eye out for Kerry.
TRIGGER WARNING FOR SUICIDE!
On the 18th of February 1993, Kevin arrived to the Von Erich ranch, to find Kerry's car abandoned and the front door of the house ajar, upon hearing a shot Kevin ran to a tree where Kerry is slumped dead, a shot through the heart. To this day, there is an Angel erected by Fritz to denote where the bullet is lodged in the tree.
Back to the Story, Kevin stands over Kerry where he Sees his father running towards the scene. Kevin assaults his father for not keeping an eye on him. He shifts the blame onto Kevin. They fight in the dirt and Kevin nearly chokes his father to Death.
Kevin finds the gun Kerry used, in a sadder turn of events, it was the gun Kerry gifted to his father. Kevin picks up his brother's corpse and brings it to the House. On a side table. We see and hear his last words- That he can't wait to see his brothers. As Kevin props his brother's body onto the table, we see Kerry's spirit leaving the house barefoot, both his feet are his own. He walks to the river and gets into a row boat, paying a quarter for the ferryman, he is rowed to the next bank where on a pier on the proverbial other side are Mike and David. They hug and they are not alone, behind the other deceased brothers is a young boy no more than six years old. So Kerry meets the brother he never knew, Jack Jnr. As the four Deceased brothers hug they leave this mortal plain.
A week later at the now closed Down Sportatorium, Kevin Finalizes the Deal to sell the promotion to Jerry Jarrett of the NWA, Despite Fritz's attempts to intimidate The Jarrett Family.
Knowing my History, I just know Teeny Jarrett would have chased him out with a Frying plan and cursed him out while doing it!
When Fritz comes home, he sees Doris is busy painting. When Fritz asks if she's cooking dinner, she answers "I'm not hungry, you can make something yourself!" Showing us she has gained some control of her life.
And so the film ends with Kevin and Pam expecting a 3rd Child. And seeing Ross and Marshall play Football makes Kevin Cry about the loss of his brothers "I use to be a Brother And now I'm not even that anymore!" His sons Comfort him as they join in their game of football.
We get an Epilogue but allow me to add more information. In 2009 the Von Erichs were Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. And by "Von Erichs" I Meant only the brothers.
Four years after Kerry's Death, Fritz died from Lung Cancer.
Kevin and Pam have being Married for 40 years and now Live in a Compound in Hawaii with their 4 children and 13 grandchildren. Ross and Marshall Took up the Family Business and The Von Erich name as they became Wrestlers Currently Signed with All Elite Wrestling. They were even in this film as Wrestling Extras!
Kerry's Daughter Lacey wrestled for TNA in the last decade, But Media Attention and Public curiosity put her on Television far Too early for her matches to be considered good!
THIS FILM IS GREAT BUT MAN IS IT HARD TO WATCH SOMETIMES!
After Shattering the Cookie cutter Nice Guy role that Bought him fame in High School Musical by masterfully playing Ted Bundy in Shockingly Wicked, Completely Evil and Vile, Zac Efron topped this Performance and Bulked up to do so to play Kevin Von Erich in Sean Durkin's Film, which he also wrote. Durkin, a life long fan of the Squared Circle, couldn't have picked a better story of triumph and tragedy than if you weren't a wrestling fan, was a story you may never have heard of. But it's also a story you can relate to beyond the framing device, with issues could easily understand.
The Fight Choreography is Top notch, it looked like You were watching archive Footage, and with good reason-Kevin and the remaining family were on board with the creative Process, we had great Character actors who fleshed out the people they were, not the stars, who The world saw on TV every week. Zac Efron played Kevin as the man who tried to please the world. Jeremy Allen-White took the role as Kerry being the Hot blooded and Determined Son who is completely Obedient. But it's the supporting cast I gravitated towards...or in the case of Holt McCalleny's Fritz Von Erich, Completely Repulsed by!
If they had just written Fritz to be an Ogre to his children, it would not be as effective. On the contrary, when Villains are not played Straight they are usually written sympathetic, but here is the thing: Despite imposing his toxic will, for the fraud he committed to keep up appearances, outside the ring, when wrestling was not the forefront of his mind, he did love his family, and truly wanted the best for his sons, he just so happens didn't want his sons to do better....THAN HIM! And Holt nailed that to a tee, Stanley Simons' Performance as Mike, I Enjoyed as the sensitive Teen Deer in the headlights that became the lamb to the slaughter.
On the technical Side, the Cinematography was Sublime, the location shots of the ranches and townhouses are as Beautiful as they can be sombre. There are Screen effects and Graphics added to the wrestling matches that make them look straight out of a VHS tape of a TV recording. And the match action was filmed in a way similar to how Wrestling is filmed, with Close ups and Dynamic Angles. There is a Small nit-pick. The film suffers from a slight Time compression Problem, with no real Determination of the passage of time apart from the wrestling show Graphics, you would think all the events happened in the space of 5 months, not 10 plus years. But that is a minor complaint In a true masterclass of a film.
CREDITS
The Iron Claw was reviewed, compiled and edited by Eamonn Bermingham (RealEnli on X)
With Media from:
The Iron Claw
Liar, Liar
Loki: the series.
Dr Who
The Iron Claw was co-produced by A24 Studios and the BBC and distributed by Lionsgate.
All Rights reserved. All Media used belong to their respective owners.
NEXT MONTH ON BOGGER BOX OFFICE!
How bad must a Disney Film be, if even McDonald's won't make a happy meal to promote it?
For the Christmas special, we Will find out what exactly made Wish fail in the cinema!
If you had being effected by the Issues brought up in this review, please Consult Your Country's anti-suicide Hotline, but if you are in Ireland, here is the Link to the Samaritans Charity.
Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen (google.com)
This is not a sponsored Review, But I Think the film showed these topics so strongly, I think it should be here.
AND NOW THE CONTINUATION OF OUR STORYLINE
THE TWO DEATHS OF E!
CHAPTER 5-COMING UNDONE!
In Earth's Hell, in a Prison of Ice, The SatanicOstrich was in a more pensive mood than possible.
That is when "They" Arrived.
MY, IT TOOK YOU LONG ENOUGH TO NOTICE DIDN'T IT?" They Said, their back to the beings who have come to beseech them.
yES, wE fEEL sOMETHING iS mISSING....lIKE sOMETHING iMPORTANT, bUT hOW cOULD iT bE iF iT wAS oNLY a hUMAN. sOMETHING iS dIFFERENT, lIKE iT'S bEING...
FORGOTTEN?
THE Glowing Beings the Cosmic Entities, morphed their featureless nodding heads to show facial cues to denote that they had a moment of clarity, before fading back into silhouettes.
(Ostrich raised the Mug which Eamonn Gave The Devil, when he had a moment of no confidence Years ago, It read "World's Greatest Boss!" YOUR MISSING HUMAN IS THE ONE WHO GAVE ME THIS! YOUR CHAMPION WHO DEFEATED ME, YOUR CHAMPION WHO DEFEATED ONE OF YOUR OWN, THE NEW RAGE! THE ONE WHO DEFEATED THE MARA. HOW CAN YOU FORGET?
iF tHIS hUMAN cOULD dO tHESE tHINGS, hOW cOULD wE fORGET?
LOOK NO FURTHER THAN YOUR OWN BACKYARD!
The ethereal creatures looked at each other, as if Ostrich had answered them in a foreign language. To the Secluded beings from the Forge of Creation, it kind of was.
wE hAVE a bACKYARD?
Oh my You! I'm trying to say it's The Appraisers of Will, it's Death and one of his Three Playmates!
tHIS iS a gREAT cRISIS, bUT iF tHIS hUMAN iS aS pOWERFUL aS yOU sAY, aND wE wOULD aLLOW sUCH a tHING, tHEN tHE cONSEQUENCES oF hIS rEMOVAL wOULD bE fELT.
(Ostrich used his extrasensory powers to find souls. He zoned in on a soul similar to Joe-Jack's, but Different, flying around Irish Airspace. He teleported the soul's incumbent to his icy prison.
Sitting on a Horse themed Flying Motorcycle, was a former ally from Earth-3, A counterpart to Joe-Jack, but what if he was Cultured and Refined. Thankfully this Rebel and Freedom Fighter, Yousef Commonman had the same fighting Spirit that didn't set him apart from the unhinged Farmer from this Earth. He sat on the seat of his vehicle, Nonplussed by being surrounded by a Crossdressing Ostrich and a Group of glowing Children.)
Can someone please tell me what in blazes am I doing in Earth-1?
Jusef volleyed himself off the bike, his Jack boots clicking as his feet connected with the hewn Basalt floor. He wore Slacks, Brown ones, held up by braces made of blackened leather, that sat firm on a freshly ironed White button down shirt. He had the same face as Joe-Jack, just as you would expect, but his beard was tidy.
What was that about consequences?
sATAN, eXPLAIN tHiS, wHO iS tHIS hUMAN? aND WHY dOES hE iS hE nOT kNOWN tO uS?
Oh right, you didn't directly meddle with each others affairs during The Leader and Heavenscar before you sealed the dimensions for good. Cosmic Entities, Jusef Commonman, he's a Rebel and Highwayman of sorts, coming from the Earth-3 timeline where Guy Fawkes Screwed the Pooch by using Uranium instead of Gunpowder, causing a Steampunk reality where Victorian era sensibilities extend to Current Year. He fights against those who want to enforce these Luddite restrictions.
wE aRE aWARE oF tHE eARTH-3 gAME. mOST oF uS fIND a gAME wITH nO wORTHWHILE pERKs tO bE...bORING!
A game? Who the hell are you to say my suffering is a "GAME"?
And Jusef, meet the Cosmic Entities. Creatures who play with the souls of men like a board game, they get so wound up that they get lesser beings to observe the Flow of Time, to the point they bodge it, Causing something like say, I don't know....CAUSING DEATH TO TAKE EAMONN!
Jusef's eyes widened with shock, "HE'S DEAD?"
No not yet, he's being sent to a place we need to bust him out from, he's being Forgotten, which is a lower state of existence, like a parallel universe. But that's the thing, you can only go there if you are Forgotten....but there are exceptions. Creatures like me and them have free reign to travel there....
That is all well and good but, it doesn't explain how I got here!
wE hAVE a tHEORY. wE bELIEVE a pERSON oF tHIS iMPORT hAS aN iMPACT oN hIS wORLD. sO mUCH sO, tHAT rEMOVING hIM mEANS uNDOING hIS ACTIONS, sEALING tHE wORLDS fROM eACH oTHER iNCLUDED!
Wait does that Mean any enemies we've defeated would return from the dead?
No....they would stay dead, and even then, Master Control would not Rise to the peak of her because, the Earth 2 Eighties Lad Di....oh no!
What?
Eamonn doesn't kill all his enemies, they are given a chance to change and those you can't...
aRE REMOVED fROM pLAY!
(Somewhere in some back alley, there is a crack in reality, two figures, "removed from play" ventured from the Discard Dimension.)
THE TWO DEATHS OF E CONTINUES IN JANUARY!
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