There’s not much in the world of entertainment that’s more theatrical than professional wrestling. And in the wrestling world, it would be hard to find a story more dramatic than that of the Von Erichs, a family of grapplers who found as much misfortune as fortune and as much infamy as fame during their time within the squared circle. It’s a bit of a surprise that it’s taken so long for that story to be made into a movie. Writer/director Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest) has finally done it, though. He’s brought us The Iron Claw.
The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich family, focusing mainly on patriarch Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) “encouraging” his sons Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson), and Mike (Stanley Simons) to follow in his footsteps as a World Class Professional Wrestler. For those unfamiliar with the Von Erich family and its “curse,” we’ll leave the synopsis at that. Because, well, it’s a heck of a story, just as unbelievable as it is tragic.
While it is dressed in the clothing of a sports movie, The Iron Claw is more a movie about toxic family life. Durkin’s protagonists are the sons, all of whom are likable enough to allow the audience both to feel sympathy for them and to root for them to win, inside of the ring and outside of it. It’s a crushing story, and Durkin’s nuanced writing and haunting imagery combined with some brilliant performances really tell the story powerfully and perfectly.
The root of the movie is the bond between the four brothers and their tumultuous relationship with their father. The boys share a true love, always supporting and encouraging each other, even when the results may get in the way of their own dreams. Of course, there’s some jealousy there, but it’s mostly happiness and excitement. At least amongst the brothers themselves.
The boys stand passively united against their father, who is the closest thing to an antagonist that exists in The Iron Claw. When youngest brother Mike wants to play music instead of wrestle, his brothers whoop and holler for him, while Dad dismisses it as a “hobby” and pushes him towards the “family business.” There’s one scene that is equal parts humorous and heartbreaking where Fritz lists his sons in order of preference, of course placing the sensitive Mike as his least favorite. It’s humorous because it’s ludicrous to even think about ranking your children, but heartbreaking because everyone – both the characters and the audience – knows that Fritz is not joking.
Holt McCallany plays Fritz with a fierce callousness. He’s intensely unlikable, pushing his sons to the brink, both living vicariously through them and shaming them for not being good enough. The biggest crime in Fritz’s world would be for one of his boys to show their feelings, or – God forbid – to cry. It’s this kind of forced masculinity that sets the tone of The Iron Claw.
Wrestling buffs may call foul at some of Durkin’s decisions in relation to the real story of the Von Erichs. Most notably, Durkin omits an entire brother, the youngest Chris Von Erich, whose true story is every bit as tearjerking as that of his brothers as he succumbs to the “curse.” Maybe Durkin felt that four brothers provided enough heartbreak and didn’t want his audience leaving the theater feeling any more down.
To be fair, there are some ups in the movie. But seemingly every upswing is met with an equal and opposite downswing. Following the trials, tribulations, triumphs, and tragedies of the Von Erichs makes The Iron Claw the opposite of a feel-good movie, but it is an experience that won’t soon be forgotten.
GRAADE: A
Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
Release Date: December 22, 2023
Studio: A24
