The Iron Claw (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.

My Take – As expected A24 delivers yet another great film. Telling the tale of the Von Erich professional wrestling family who kicked off what is now the professional wrestling dynasty. Superstars in their own right, but bizarrely also saddled with a dark curse that forced them to endure pain and sorrow like no other.

The patriarch, Fritz Von Erich (aka John ‘Jack’ Adkisson) was a popular name in the 1950s and 60s, feared for his famous signature finishing move called the Iron Claw. While his oldest, died due to accidental electrocution and drowning at the age of five, years later, the remaining five of his sons followed in his footsteps into a wrestling career with varying degrees of success.

Eventually with Kevin being the only one left alive, given the opportunity to raise a family and take the dreams forward, as his brothers all passed away in a short pan from each other.

Here, director-writer Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest), who grew up as a hardcore pro wrestling fan and a Von Erich admirer, crafts an admirable story about a family struggling to uphold its legacy amid unspeakable tragedies. Buoyed by transformative performances from its ensemble cast, the viewing experience is gut-wrenching and beautiful at the same time, telling a tragic story of brotherhood, love, pain and expectations.

Personally, I found myself heartbroken by the tragedies portrayed on screen, yet incredibly moved by the brotherhood these characters shared. It’s a heavy watch for sure, and just might be the most moving, profound, and honest depiction of a family on film in recent years.

Without a doubt, director Sean Durkin deserves immense praise for taking an unfathomably tragic story and telling it with the needed grace.

The story follows Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron), the Texas NWA Heavyweight Champion and one of the four brothers in Dallas, Texas raised by Jack “Fritz” Von Erich (Holt McCallany), former wrestler, their father, coach and WCCW owner, and their mother Doris (Maura Tierney). Throughout the early 1980s, Kevin and David (Harris Dickinson) come to dominate the sport like their father once did, all in the hope of becoming the World Champion. A title Fritz believes he was cheated out of, but used that as chip to raise and train his boys that being the toughest and fastest means nothing can hurt you.

They are soon joined by Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), a competitive discus thrower who is denied a shot at a gold medal when President Carter announced the 1980 Moscow Olympic boycott. But while the three are comfortable in the ring, the youngest, Mike (Stanley Simons), the sensitive brother is much better suited to pursuing his music than joining his spandex clad brawny brothers, which he ultimately does under duress from dear old dad.

And though, Kevin meets and marries the love of his life in Pam Adkisson (Lily James), and his relationship with his brothers grows stronger than ever, unfortunately, a great tragedy turns the four brothers into three, setting off a chain of events that will gradually turn the triumphant legacy of the Von Erichs from All-American heroes into something much darker. As his father’s domineering iron grip prevents necessary healing, Kevin tries to hold on as his family spirals out of control.

For the sake of a shorter runtime, the youngest member of the family, Chris Von Erich, has been cut out entirely. Though decisions like these can sink a film and call in the ethics of such a project. Thankfully, the film’s narrative passes every test. From the opening scene until credits roll, audiences of both diehard wrestling fandom and casual film appreciators will be left on the edge of their seats.

You feel the strong bond within the family and feel the closeness of brothers who truly love each other. The Von Erich brothers are immensely likable characters from the outset. David is the natural born star of the group, Kerry exceedingly reliable, Mike the sensitive artist, and Kevin is the glue that holds them all together. It’s a joy simply to see them interact in various ways, such as when all three brothers go to support Mike at a house show he’s performing at.

With each passing of a brother you feel worse and worse for the family. The strong knit family becomes devastated by what brought them the closest together. Seeing how the brothers handle tragedy is where a lot of the potent emotion comes from. From the dimly lit locker rooms to the family’s Denton County kitchen table, we learn a few hard truths about how the Von Erichs were influenced by their parents. And how wrestling and the notoriety they achieved from it consumed them.

The wrestling here is brutal ballet, choreographed by former professional wrestler Chavo Guerrero, as director Durkin shows us both the false construction of the sport and the very real destruction of bodies both inside and outside the ring. He manages to portray wrestling as a dream, while also maintaining the over-the-top theatricality that makes it so entertaining and inherently dangerous.

Performances wise, indeed this one contains Zac Efron‘s best work yet. Delivering an absolutely touching and heartbreaking turn, we see Efron transform himself physically and emotionally. Jeremy Allen White, too, is excellent if more inscrutable as Kerry, initially the golden boy until his own brush with disaster sends him into a downward spiral. Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons are also quite flawless in their gut wrenching depictions. The four share good chemistry on screen.

Holt McCallany is also quite excellent bring in an excruciatingly authentic performance that has him step into the role of a trainer, ordering around the brothers as a team he has to whip into shape rather than a loving father. Lily James provides her usual spark of charm and likability, while Maura Tierney and Michael Harney are also good in supporting roles. On the whole, ‘The Iron Claw’ is an incredible yet devastating drama that is bound to stick for a while.