“There is nothing fake about this.” – Zac Efron, The Iron Claw
In The Iron Claw, these words are meant to be a window into the beauty of professional wrestling. However, they could also be said about the film itself. Written and directed by Sean Durkin, The Iron Claw is one of the most honest films of the year. Although some creative liberties have been taken for the sake of storytelling, this is a story that begins in the ring but ends in the home.
For fans of professional wrestling, The Iron Claw truly taps into the reality of its performers beyond the mat. But even for those who care a little about sports entertainment, Claw remains an exquisitely shot and beautifully performed film that may be one of the year’s best.
The Iron Claw tells the true story of the Von Erichs, four brothers who scratched and clawed their way through the world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Coached by their father, Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy David Washington), David (Harris Dickerson) and Michael (Stanley Simmons) were believed to achieve greatness in the ring. However, as their lives face inexplicable adversity, the brothers must fight for more than immortality between the ropes.
Although Iron Claw may keep its story in and around the ring, it’s the souls of its characters that brings it to life. Following the journeys of the Von Erich clan, Durkin’s steady hand makes the most of every moment. For him, each match means something more than wins and losses. This is a story of a family who is looking for more than victory in order to survive their lives together. Every title shot and coordinated dropkick has meaning that extends far beyond their rankings with the fans. Each bout is an opportunity to increase their standing within the home. As such, Durkin taps into the tragedy of a family that may spent their nights wrestling with opponents but their greatest battles seem to be their own inner demons.
Much of the success of Iron Claw is due to some stunning performances by its cast, particularly its four brothers. As Kevin, Efron taps into a piece of himself as an actor that feels entirely new. Best known for his musical and comedic talents, Claw puts the grit back in his repertoire. This is a raw and uncut look at the spirit of a man who had to deal with the scars of abuse and the tragedy of loss. However, this is not to negate the particularly strong work by co-starts Jeremy Allen White, Stanley Simons and especially, Harris Dickenson as David. In every scene, each man brings their character to life with vibrancy and humanity that feels authentic. In fact, any one of these four men would be worthy of awards recognition as they take their performances to the next level.
But the true power of Iron Claw is the way that it wrestles with mortality. For instance, early on in the film, Michael sings a song about wanting to “live that way forever“. In this moment of vitality, his performance is meant to be a song that taps into the immortality that comes with youthful energy. With their lives and successful careers ahead of them, there’s a genuine sense of joy that pervades these brothers. To them, the ’Von Erich Curse’ is nonsense.
They are going fight their own battles. And win.
But, as their respective demons come to claim them, the pain of loss slowly begins to break them down. Without ruining the journey within Iron Claw, the staggering fragility of life becomes their greatest opponent, leaving them begging for answers. Having grown up in a home with a father who demanded victory, the Von Erichs are suddenly left wondering what it really means to win. Since childhood, they’ve believed that it lies on the other side of a championship. Now, as life rolls forward, they find themselves looking for more.
While tragic, there’s a soul within Iron Claw that truly makes it special. For many, professional wrestling is a non-sensical form of entertainment. But Durkin ensures that we understand that the men beyond the mat are fighting more than their next opponent. For them, professional wrestling is a constant battle between success and family..
Because, for them, there’s nothing fake about this.
The Iron Claw is available in theatres on Friday, December 22nd, 2023.
Clearly a blurb written by the studio, because the movie is none of those things. It’s a boring, sad mess without much credible reality. There’s even a long drawn-out scene of one dead brother going to heaven (or maybe just a back cow pasture on their Texas ranch) to meet two other dead brothers. There’s the guy riding on his motorcycle to a fadeout and 30 seconds later he’s missing a foot. What is all this churn other than an example of how Texans make the worst, unloving parents in the world. Aside from a few nice shots of Zac Efron trying to look human through his craggy face and super-bulked body, this was a waste of 130 minutes.