PremiumWhen The Iron Claw’s Zac Efron couldn't stop crying in the climax sequence - “He was just all filled up with water at that point”
Zac Efron gets the most emotional climax in The Iron Claw as he acknowledges his loneliness.
The Iron Claw Trivia
Last Updated: 04.15 PM, Jun 17, 2024
The Iron Claw stars Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and an ensemble cast. It is a movie about the legendary pro wrestling family, the Von Erichs. It explores everything they stood for, every tragedy that broke and made them, and everything the family suffered from. At its core, the Sean Durkin directorial is also about being men and being conditioned by societal norms. They were taught to be strong, and not allowed to cry, hugs were nothing more than a pat on the back, and emotions were never supposed to be expressed in public. But one of the two scenes that changed this was the climax for Kevin, played by Zac Efron. A scene that had us all in tears.
The Heartbreaking Climax
If you haven't seen The Iron Claw, which is now out on Lionsgate Play, head back because this article is full of spoilers. Life was never fair to the Von Erichs when it came to their personal space. After losing all his brothers, Kevin had to live in the void and loneliness of losing everyone he once called family. All of it boiled down to the climax scene where Zac Efron's Kevin is seen sitting in a garden, looking at his boys playing. In that moment, he is reminded of his childhood with his brothers and tears start rolling. Read on to know what happens next.
The scene escalates to Kevin crying silently and his boys noticing it. When they come towards him, he tries to hide the tears and says they shouldn't see him like this. The scene becomes gold and defines The Iron Claw in the next few moments as his son says it is okay to cry and everyone is allowed. Kevin then says how he misses his brothers, and his sons say they can be his brothers. The scene is tender, showing a man who has always been strong, melting and making peace with his tragic life.
Also Read: Zac Efron gave up veganism to bulk up for The Iron Claw and jumped into a crazy diet - Did you know?
Zac Efron Recalled...
According to USA Today, Zac Efron recalls how they shot that scene near the end of production when he had already built bonds with the actors and had lived Kevin’s journey. The Iron Claw star said, “It 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, ‘All right, bring it in. Keep it together, bro. It's too much.’ But it felt honest in that moment.”
Sean Durkin added how Zac Efron couldn't control the tears building up in him and broke down in the center. Seven takes and five minutes later, he was still crying, and it was beautiful. “He was just all filled up with water at that point,” the director says. “It was like seven takes of five minutes of crying. It was endless. He just could keep going. (But) it was very, very beautiful.”
The Iron Claw is now streaming on Lionsgate Play in India, and you can stream it with your OTTplay Premium subscription. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.