The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw

Released December 22, 2023 

Written and Directed by Sean Durkin

* No Spoilers *

Despite being a fan of professional wrestling in my youth I had no knowledge of the tragic true story of the Von Erich family. I was not at all prepared for this emotional rollercoaster. I rarely cry or even get teary eyed when I watch a movie, especially in a theatre, but I was bawling by the end of The Iron Claw. 

Unlike most biopics, Sean Durkin’s incredible screenplay is not based on a book, memoir, or source other than the experiences of those who witnessed or lived through these events. Making this an even more incredible example of fantastic screenwriting and storytelling. It felt personal and was presented without the restrictions of adapting another medium. Everything is so well suited for a film and it really shows. 

The cast is incredible. The driven but harsh patriarch of the family, Fritz Von Erich, is played by the underrated Holt McCallany (Mindhunter) and Lily James (Baby Driver) is great but she doesn’t enough screen time to shine. The casting of the four Von Erich brothers is exceptional. Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) as David is charismatic and charming and newcomer Stanley Simons is complicated and endearing as Michael. The obvious stand outs were Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) as Kerry and Zach Effron (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile) as the eldest brother Kevin. Jeremy Allen White is not in the film for too long but he is raw and intense, delivering an incredible physical performance. 

Zach Effron as Kevin goes way beyond what I would have expected. Any doubt you had in his acting ability or concern for being forever known as Troy from Highway School Musical should be put to rest. This is a complex and multilayered performance where he gives the perfect amount of emotion, while clearly presenting a character who is forced to hold back. He tows that line so well throughout the entire movie that it made his final scene all the more compelling. 

I did take issue with the casting and performance of Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair. He has barely 5 minutes of screen time but his character is important symbolically. Having all this dramatic buildup fizzled out with Eisenberg doing a bad impression without any of the pizazz or “woooohh!” energy that Flair needed. It is a minor detail but he is a blemish in an otherwise stellar cast. 

The direction and particularly the editing are phenomenal. They pair so well with the fantastic use of ambient sound and repetition of the original song, Live that Way Forever, which takes on various distinct renditions throughout the movie.  Speaking of music, one of my favourite scenes was a training montage set to Pink Floyd’s Tom Sawyer. The beat drops just as the brothers are enter into the ring together. Its epic and as iconic and triumphant as any great training sequence should be. There is another scene where the family makes a decision by tossing a coin. The camera pulls in close to the isolated coin rising into the air, and then transitions into the camera tracking up the legs of one of the brothers, slowly revealing who won the toss. Another scene uses a layered cross dissolve showing the brothers each dealing with the pain of their match in the locker room. Each of the three translucent shots moves to settle and line up their pained faces. 

It’s hard to talk about these moments (and some others I’ve left out) without spoiling too much but you will know exactly what I mean when you see it. So many dramatic moments are eluded to but never shown directly. The beauty of this choice is that by focusing on the aftermath instead of the actual event, we experience the emotions and regret as the family members do, hopelessly unable to change the past. 

I made a mental note early in the movie, feeling that there was distinct lack of tension, but my timing was terrible because minutes later the story hit a significant turning point. The music shifted tone and the first domino fell as the story tumbled down a path of unfortunate tragedies. The positive and triumphant start made that descent even more painful. Like the Von Erich family, the audience barely has time to grieve before the next disaster occurs.

That piling on of emotional gut punches eventually broke me but it also left a sweetness that was hopeful and kind. That sounds contradictory but it’s a rare feat for a movie to illicit a simultaneous blend of pain, joy, loss, and relief. The culmination of those events, and the amazing dialogue, acting, music, and editing brought everything together into one of the most impactful final scenes I have ever experienced. 

The Iron Claw is about brotherhood, sacrifice, resilience, and ambition, but also a powerful commentary on masculinity. It is not subtle in what it’s saying but it is never preachy. Instead the way it conveys that message is incredibly delicate. It sneaks up on you, and corners the audience into accepting truths as they are made so apparent they can’t be avoided. The ending scene is proof of that. It’s such an impeccable crescendo on every level, cementing it’s themes, character arcs, and emotional core with such precision that I had no choice but to be left in a weeping mess as the credits rolled. 

9/10 - An excellent showcase of talent, where layers of a story and its presentation build to a powerful and overwhelmingly emotional finale. I watched this after putting out my Top 10 Movies of 2023 but I can easily say this would have earned a spot on that list (likely close to or in the Top 5).  You should watch this movie!

---