The Iron Claw Review: 6 Ups & 3 Downs
3. Fritz The Heel
Every good movie needs tension, drama, or a villain to serve as the focal point for both.
The Iron Claw had a tailor-made villain in Fritz Von Erich, with his real-life pressuring of his sons serving as a perfect basis. Fritz spoke of bringing the NWA World Title into the Von Erich household as the only thing that mattered, going so far as to rank his sons and demean Mike for not being interested in the family business.
The movie wisely does not sugarcoat its portrayal of Fritz by giving him many – if any – redeeming characteristics. An understated scene near the end of the film reveals that he’s been stiffing his sons on their WCCW payouts through the years, a fact that astounds Kevin, who’s living in a tiny apartment with his wife and two sons.
Incredibly, the movie downplayed his role in pushing Mike into David’s spot, and by nixing the youngest Von Erich, Chris, they missed the opportunity to show how low Fritz would stoop and how little of a protector of a father he was.
Still, he’s the clear heel in this story, an easy character to despise.