“The Iron Claw” Review
Centered on the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers (who were all inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame), “The Iron Claw” depicts the family’s rise and fall through a series of horrible tragedies that made onlookers wonder if the family was cursed.
In the spirit of honesty, I have a little confession about the film “The Iron Claw”. I saw this film way earlier than everyone else. Back in May, I was able to go to a test screening and even take part in a focus group discussion afterwards. I mention this because, despite the audio needing to be fine tuned and some of the VFX shots being incomplete, I was blown away by this incredible story and, months after I saw the film, I still couldn’t get “The Iron Claw” out of my head. Now that the film has been released this December, I can say that A24’s venture into the sports biopic genre is one of the finest films of the year and a harsh experience that will leave you emotionally devastated while offering glimpses of hope.
Before the world of professional wrestling was consolidated by the WWE, there were numerous leagues across the country that gave us numerous stars like Bruiser Brody, Harley Race and Ric Flair. In this environment, the biggest and best league, World Class Championship Wrestling headquartered in Dallas, Texas, achieved international stardom due to the amazing performances of the Von Erich family: a team of brothers whose patriarch Fritz (Holt McCallany), a former wrestler known for his signature move the Iron Claw, pushed them to be the toughest and most outstanding wrestlers in the history of the sport. Through relentless training and family values, brothers Kevin, Kerry, David and Mike Von Erich (Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons) all achieved stardom in the ring throughout the late 70s and the 1980s. However, the family also dealt with numerous tragedies that fractured them forever and brought what could have been an immortal dynasty down to its knees.
Going into this film, I was not what you would call a big fan of professional wrestling. I do have a massive respect for it and those that step into the ring, both from occasionally watching matches (both old and new) and seeing films like “Fighting With My Family” and “The Wrestler”, but I don’t have the dedication to the sport that I so admire in fans of the WWE and other wrestling leagues. It is most likely through this unfamiliarity that I had no idea who the Von Erichs were. Now that I’ve seen the film twice, not only do I find that this story made a fascinating film but I also hope that “The Iron Claw” brings it to a wider audience and gives casual viewers a true respect for the world of professional wrestling.
When you look at photos of the Von Erich boys, you freeze up at the idea of being able to transform your body into this perfect machine of muscle and athleticism. Yet, every actor in this film gave their bodies and souls the biggest challenge of their careers to bring these real-life titans to life. Zac Efron is truly outstanding as Kevin Von Erich and, while he does come out of this film the least scathed by the infamous “Von Erich curse,” really brings the most heartfelt emotion to the role. Watching his family be torn apart by the costs of performing in the ring and their own demons is soul-crushing and Efron doesn’t hold anything back.
(From Left) The physical and emotional performances of Harris Dickinson, Zac Efron, Stanley Simons and Jeremy Allen White brought as David, Kevin, Mike and Kerry Von Erich were outstanding due to the powerful bond that these four had.
The rest of the Von Erich family is impeccably played with Jeremy Allen White and Holt McCallany both being powerhouse contenders for any supporting actor awards. While McCallany could easily be seen as a villain, the film takes on a more nuanced approach because Fritz’s sons love their father and want to make him proud and Fritz loves his sons in his own way which could be seen as pretty twisted, even by the standards of the time. For instance, he not only has a favorite child, but he ranks all of his children based on their performance and he reminds them that “the rankings can always change.” While each Von Erich wrestler has their own pain, White’s journey as Kerry is especially heartbreaking because of the amount of time dedicated to it. After seeing Harris Dickinson in the wonderful ensemble cast of “Triangle of Sadness”, it’s great to have him back as David Von Erich as well as Stanley Simons really making his mark as the youngest sibling following a few appearances in television.
Even if you’re not interested in sports and professional wrestling, what the great sports biopics have in common is that there’s a relatable emotional core at the heart of the film. In the case of “The Iron Claw”, it’s the intense bond between these four brothers who love each other and love doing everything together. Writer/director Sean Durkin has said that he was a fan of professional wrestling from a very young age and that clearly shows in his depiction of the sport and this family. The whole film feels like a passion project that Durkin spent years pondering over how he was going to bring the story of the Von Erichs to the big screen.
While “The Iron Claw” doesn’t bother to hide the scripted elements and the overall pageantry of the sport, Durkin makes it clear that these moves the Von Erichs are doing can really hurt and take a physical toll. During both screenings, there were audible gasps numerous times with some audience members involuntarily saying “Oh my God” at the hits Kevin, Kerry, David and Mike were taking and giving. With the way the sport is handled, the film’s overall execution and just the nature of this story, “The Iron Claw” has more in common with films like “Raging Bull” and “Foxcatcher” than any other feel-good biopic.
I find it appropriate that the film is named for the wrestling move invented by Fritz Von Erich. Like the Iron Claw, when you’re caught in its grip, it’s painful and cruel but you also can’t help but be in awe of its power. The biggest takeaways critics and audiences are going to have from this film will most likely be its brutality and the harsh subject matter. But Durkin also balances the film’s cruelty with plenty of scenes where we can take joy from the bond these brothers shared and the entire family’s dedication to their craft. It doesn’t make “The Iron Claw” an easy viewing experience, but it does create a well-rounded portrayal of this family.
Even if you know this story and are hesitant to see the film, I would strongly argue that the purpose of “The Iron Claw” isn’t to make us feel bad about this great tragedy. It’s to serve as a cautionary tale as well as make us all contemplate the bonds that make life worth living whether they’re with our family or friends. Love is at the core of this film and while it can hurt, it can also heal.
