One of the most buzzed-about films this holiday season is A24’s The Iron Claw. Yes, it centers on pro wrestling but the story transcends the ring. The movie follows the life of Kevin Von Erich and the Von Erich family, which was snake-bitten by a string of unspeakable tragedies.
From the outside looking in, they were Texas royalty during the peak of patriarch Fritz’s World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW) based in Dallas. Given the project was written and directed by Sean Durkin, who happens to be a big fan, you know a lot of time and care went into making sure the presentation was as authentic as possible.
This was not only a unified goal by the star-studded cast including Zac Efron (Kevin Von Erich), Jeremy Allen White (Kerry Von Erich), Harris Dickinson (David Von Erich), Lily James (Pam Adkisson), and others. It trickled down to the unsung heroes working on set behind the scenes as well.
The Iron Claw: The Interview
Jennifer Starzyk (Costume Designer), Elle Favorule (Makeup Department Head), and Natalie Shea Rose (Hair Department Head) got together to discuss their process. Favorule in particular was no stranger to pro wrestling, working on Lucha Underground.
“That show beautifully combined live wrestling matches with a scripted vignette series,” she said. “Being a part of that was so exciting. I was immediately sucked in. I knew nothing about wrestling or the amazing characters that were coming in. The athleticism that these people brought each day and doing multiple matches a day. I was like, ‘You guys got me hooked.’ The fans surround the entire world with luchadors from Mexico and worldwide stars from WWE and other places. That was my first foray.”
For Rose, the movie was a trip down memory lane. An admitted Hulkamaniac growing up, she was fully transfixed by the 1980s larger-than-life figure. “I knew going into it how much all these characters meant to the fans because they were my heroes,” Rose said. “Up until my parents told me I had to stop watching because me and my brother would wrestle each other. They were like, “I don’t know if we want you watching this anymore.”
Starzyk makes no bones about the fact she did not watch wrestling, know wrestling, and even had those preconceived notions about it. The cynical perspective softened as she became more immersed and went down the proverbial rabbit hole. Now Starzyk considers herself a fan with a newfound respect for the craft.
“It’s live theater, it’s so dynamic, so electric. These performers need to know the choreography and work together. There is showmanship and costumes. I feel it’s a gift getting to know wrestling now. I enjoyed all that. Not to mention we’re all in this with Sean. He was such a beloved fan of this and the story, so when you hear him talking when we first met. It touches people.”
The new admirer hit the ground running on costumes with her team. Her deep dive included watching Dark Side of the Ring, Heroes of World Class Wrestling, and sifting through the Von Erich’s photo albums. It’s where she got a sense of the vibe, presentation, and feel for the time and atmosphere. Another source was binging 13 seasons of the classic TV series Dallas.
Rose had her own experiences being from Houston and spending time on the family ranch in Buffalo, Texas. She knew, when it came to things like hair for example, people in Dallas wore their hair different than in other cities and regions.
“It’s not the 1980s where everyone is glammed up or done up. Out in the country, [the Von Erich’s] were rock stars, but weren’t done all up the same way…They didn’t do their hair like when you see the 1970s or 1980s portrayed. It was about keeping that authenticity.”
When it comes to period pieces, authenticity is key. And this trio knew they wanted to get it painstakingly right. For Favorule, the baseline was the understanding that these were real people. The challenge was to show the change in years and look visually. But with so much bandwidth, it was about finding the middle ground. Quality photos also weren’t the best. This made it harder to zoom in on the little things.
“Did the guys shave their legs? What’s the tan situation like? We’re getting into the nitty gritty,” Favorule explained. “…Zac, Jeremy, and Harris multiple times have told the story where during our camera test Zac and Jeremy meet for the first time and Jeremy is in my chair and my key Courtney is on the ground full body shaving Jeremy. As Zac walks in to introduce himself, everyone starts laughing because this is the world we’re going to be in the next few months. So get ready.”
A few liberties here and there have to be taken in the world of cinema. However, when it came to all aspects of pro wrestling, the team was thankful to have great experts on set at all times. The pro wrestlers themselves include consultant Chavo Guerrero, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his own time in the ring but on the sets of GLOW and Young Rock. He also portrays Edward “The Sheik” Farhat in the film.
“He taught me how they tuck in their laces of boots or where a knee pad should feel,” Starzk said. “[The wrestlers] were so open to wanting to dress up as people they admired as well. The clothes fit differently than back then. Especially, with our main boys. The Von Erich trunks were higher and worn up to their belly button where now they wear them down. Zac would want to pull them up where we’re like, ‘No, it’s down.’ We met in the model where it should fit on the body.
She continued: “When Chavo put on The Sheik trunks, he was like this is the most covered I think I’ve ever been almost a big diaper with a camel on it. They were so much fun to work with because they were such decent people and wanted the film to be a hit as well.”
Other familiar faces fans may know who helped on set were Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez) and Brady Pierce (Michael Hayes), and of course, AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman (Lance Von Erich). All three speak highly of MJF, describing a different side of him many may not see away from the bright lights of the arenas. Favorule recalls one particular moment when Durkin let his mega fan flag wave.
“We spent a day with him in the trailer testing out hair and makeup making sure we brought the character to life. Natalie and her team were working on wig stuff and Sean was like, ‘How is he? Can I go in there and say hi?’ He was so excited to get in there with him. MJF was the loveliest. He was so excited to be there. That energy transcended every department.”
Starzyk added: “Maxwell was a total blast on set. I watched him before and was like, “I got to get the answer on this Burberry scarf. He had just won the title and it had this Burberry print on his belt because you can customize the belts.
He was delightful and a blast, funny, professional, and rolled with it… He even asked to keep this purple jumpsuit.”
The three were individually touched by the finished product. “It’s easy to get swept up in these emotional performances because they are so real and true,” Favorule said. “Getting to see it, I remember being in Dallas and looking at the screen it’s so easy to nitpick your work. Then these big emotional scenes come up and then that washes away and I‘m focused on this film…Being able to be part of the story that means so much to so many people, I looked back at my fiancée, and she had tears streaming down. She was like, “I think I need to call my brothers. It was that sort of film. I think everyone will take something different from it.
Starzyk was moved by Kevin Von Erich, not only by his touching story but how he has weathered the black cloud of tragedy. Despite the loss of so much of his family, the Hall of Famer has somehow persevered. “He had to overcome so much, I have so much admiration for him,” she said. “I said that to him at the premiere and he was like, ‘I’m a regular guy and stuff happened to me.’ That’s the person he is. It’s a choice to wrestle barefoot, be Zen, and move to Hawaii. Those things give him a sense of being grounded.”
Getting confirmation of a job well done by the family also filled Rose’s heart. It also was a further motivator and source of inspiration.
“While we were shooting Kerry’s daughters came up to me. We also had Kevin’s sons. “They were like, “That’s what dads’ hair looked like. That meant a lot to me that we did it right and did it justice.”
The Iron Claw opens in theaters on December 22.
