The Iron Claw viewers shocked over Zac Efron’s dramatically different appearance as they rave over the biopic: ‘What did he do to his face?’
Iron Claw viewers in Britain gave the film rave reviews, which ultimately dropped six weeks after its cinematic release on the other side of the Atlantic.
But fans are still struggling to come to terms with Zac Efron’s shockingly different appearance as Kevin Von Erich in the wrestling drama.
The film follows the tragic true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the early 1980s by leading the world of professional wrestling.
The High School Musical star co-stars on-screen with brothers Jeremy Allen White (Kerry), Harris Dickinson (David) and Stanley Simons (Mike).
After seeing the new biopic, a viewer responded on
Iron Claw viewers in Britain have given the film rave reviews, which ultimately dropped across the Atlantic six weeks after its cinematic release.
Zac’s appearance in recent years has sparked rumors of surgery, but the star revealed in 2022 that his fuller jawline came about after breaking his jaw in an accident. Featured in the new film, shot in 2022 and 2023 (left), and at the film’s premiere in November
Pictured (L-R): Harris Dickinson, Efron, Stanley Simons and Jeremy Allen White as the Von Erich siblings
One viewer was so shocked by the transformation that they asked if “that’s actually him?”
The fuller jawline also shocked fans last year when he promoted his upcoming film, with some suspecting he had work done.
More responded after the film’s full release by asking if “that’s actually him?” and ‘What did he do to his face?’
“Zac Efron’s ‘roid face’ gives me the worst case of an uncanny valley,” another added.
Zac explained the transformation when it happened in 2021, but his wider jaw now keeps showing up on screen because it was filmed the same year.
He revealed that the bloated appearance was a result of the actor hitting his jaw on a granite fountain. His facial muscles grew to compensate for the injury.
But looking beyond the lead actor’s surprise appearance, The Iron Claw has been hailed as “an instant classic” by viewers, who said: “You definitely don’t have to be a wrestling fan to appreciate The Iron Claw.”
‘What a moving, poignant and sometimes funny film that is as much about family as it is about wrestling…
‘The Iron Claw was so good…
“I just saw Iron Claw. Easily the best film of 2023…
“Anyway, see The Iron Claw. It’s an instant classic.’
The Iron Claw follows the tragic true story of the Von Erich family, who made history at the forefront of the world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. In the photo: brothers (LR) Kevin, David and Kerry with their champion father Fritz
Fritz doesn’t mind his sons knowing how he orders his favorites; he takes it as an incentive to make him proud. “The rankings can always change,” he tells them
The film was awarded a ‘certified fresh’ 89 percent Rotten tomatoes to score.
The critics’ consensus reads: ‘Powerfully acted and deeply sad, The Iron Claw honors its fact-based story with a dramatization whose compassionate exploration of family bonds is as weighty as the action in the wrestling ring.’
Kevin was the eldest surviving son of Fritz (Holt McCallany) and Doris (Maura Tierney), whose firstborn died in childhood.
The clan of sons all grew up in the image of their father, a wrestling champion, whose signature move was the eponymous “iron claw,” a kind of one-handed head screw.
And his greatest wish, expressed unequivocally, is for all his boys to follow him into the ring.
One of them, Mike, is not as strong and sporty as the others. He prefers his guitar to wrestling, which is why Fritz calls him his least favorite.
Lily James stars as Kevin’s (Zac Efron) lover Pam Adkisson, later his wife
Looking past the High School Musical star’s appearance, viewers of the film labeled it an ‘instant classic’
He doesn’t mind his sons knowing how he orders his favorites; he takes it as an incentive to make him proud. “The rankings can always change,” he tells them.
There was another son, Chris, the youngest, who was not included in the film, as writer-director Sean Durkin related Variety his suicide was “another tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand.”
Another character we do meet is Kevin’s Texan partner, Pam Adkisson, played by Lily James.
The story ends with that couple’s family, with Kevin crying as he watches his and Pam’s children play soccer, thinking about the sad fate of his own siblings.