The Iron Claw, 2023.
Written and Directed Sean Durkin.
Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Holt McCallany, Lily James, Cazzey Louis Cereghino, Kevin Anton, Maxwell Friedman, Brady Pierce, Aaron Dean Eisenberg, Ryan Nemeth, Chad Governale, Michael Harney, Jim Gleason, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Alyssa Matthews, Leo Franich, Sam Franich, and Cassidy O’Reilly, Grady Wilson, Valentine Newcomer, Scott Innes, and Romeo Newcomer.
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.
“That family is cursed” is something one probably hears upon bringing up professional wrestling’s Von Erich family. Tragedies are magnetized to the surname with such consistency that for The Iron Claw writer/director Sean Durkin, anyone familiar with the story will come into the film wondering how the hell depicting any of this can be accomplished without coming across as a tacky onslaught of shock value trauma porn.
The answer is a combination of interrogating how much of this is an eerie curse where freak accidents happen and what is the direct result of a father exhibiting borderline sociopathic behavior or the misguided tough love commonplace in Texas during the late 1970s/early 1980s pushing his children to sacrifice their physical well-being in an effort to become a world heavyweight champion, by extension, bringing honor and financial stability to the family.
Part of the solution also appears to be not inserting one brother into the film, a choice that streamlines the experience and takes away from the possibility that the amount of tragedy here would be too much that it’s impossible to believe. It’s the only misstep Sean Durkin makes; what’s here is more than enough proof that his film is assured, emotionally compelling, respectful, honest, and could have worked without eliminating a family member.
There is a relative window of happiness in the early part of the film, which means it’s not too surprising that there are even a few jokes here and there. One of them sees family patriarch Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) rank his children from favorite to least favorite at the table during breakfast.
At the time, it’s amusing since all of the boys have something positive going for them; Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) is away preparing to participate in the Moscow Summer Olympics, Kevin (a shredded, hurt, and soulful Zac Efron) is the most promising of the bunch in wrestling, David (Harris Dickinson) is less physically built than his brothers but gifted on the microphone, and Michael (Stanley Simons) whose passion lies in music.
Much about The Iron Claw is ominous and foreboding (an early tour of the family home gives glimpses of everything that comes to define the family: family, brotherhood, accolades, religion, and guns), but as horrific incidents begin occurring which causes Fritz to rearrange that hierarchy frequently, the joke becomes twisted, hovering and haunting the film. Not that any of this would be less devastating and painful if the brothers didn’t share an unbreakable bond, but they do, and Sean Durkin wisely spends as much time as possible living in the observation of those simpler times, whether it be relaxing in a lake, getting a burger, or playing football.
Even as adults, there is still growing up to do. When Kevin enters a relationship with a sweet, super fan named Pam (Lily James), it’s made abundantly clear that their father has spent so much time training them to be warriors in the ring that the son has no idea how to pull off some more intimate moves. Initially, he doesn’t even realize that she is asking him out on a date. They are met with strict parenting when their mother, Dolores (Maura Tierney), forbids them from driving Michael to play a gig in his band at a nighttime party, although they sneak off anyway, united as always. She fights negativity with religion and is compassionate toward her children.
As Kevin and Pam get to know one another, he explains the family curse and how it took his oldest brother when he was a child (a freak accident death by electrocution in the family trailer), unsure of whether or not he actually believes it. Again, horrible things happen as this film goes on, forcing Zac Efron to deliver a nuanced performance of inner torment and pain, one so perfectly calibrated that his leaning towards believing in the curse is written all over his face.
Given that Kevin is exhausting himself in the squared circle and as a father while processing constant loss, Zac Efron’s acting brilliantly reflects that, seemingly with no energy left to be a parent. Talking someone out of suicide is another Tuesday for him. Everyone delivers phenomenal acting, but Zac Efron is on another level and deserves awards recognition.
There is a slow realization that perhaps everything his father said about how they would be untouchable and invincible if they pushed themselves to be the strongest, toughest, most resilient, and most talented wrestlers around was the wrong approach. Fritz is a father who certainly loves his children in his way but also pushes them to a breaking point to live out dreams and accomplishments vicariously he could never reach himself. His questionable parenting certainly brings out their ambitious drive and wedges unhealthy competition between them, vying for his favoritism.
What’s also sad and gives Fritz another layer is that he never wanted his children to get into wrestling. He was once a musician like Michael, but he feels this is now the only way for the family to get by and make its mark on the world.
As for the wrestling scenes themselves, they are shot with clear close-ups demonstrating that while this is predetermined (there are even some scenes of wrestlers planning out matches beforehand), it is physically demanding, and there is no way to fake the majority of that. These segments are also choreographed by real-life wrestling veteran Chavo Guerrero Jr., lending more authenticity. Other legends such as Ric Flair and Harley Race are also played by actors in brief supporting roles, further showing off the stars of the time.
Wrestling fans will also catch cameos from current talents, such as AEW World Heavyweight Champion MJF (also an executive producer on the film and involved with giving advice on the wrestling scenes), and revel in entertaining rivalries, such as the one pitting the brothers against the Fabulous Freebirds. Naturally, some of the wrestling serves as an outlet for Kevin to let out the anger festering inside him.
Balancing that horror with an emotionally powerful portrait of brotherhood is paramount to Sean Durkin’s success here. He isn’t out to gratuitously show every tragic incident, tastefully getting to the point. There is also often an air of silence throughout, with ticking clocks and similar sounds serving as the only noise, playing into that unnerving presentation with a suffocating dread. At one point, Dolores has a complete breakdown when facing the reality of attending another funeral; it’s outstanding acting for Maura Tierney, tapping into what viewers feel.
Watching The Iron Claw is like letting someone lightly press down on your chest, gradually increasing the pressure until it’s too much to bear. We know the bliss won’t last, and it will shatter every fragment of our hearts.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
