As someone who knew little to nothing about the Von Erichs, I was most certainly not prepared for the emotional turmoil I was about to endure. Despite my lack of interest in wrestling and lack of knowledge about the family, I couldn’t help but find myself becoming completely invested in the lives of these brothers. There is a complex balance that must be found when dealing with a story as tragic as this one, but much of The Iron Claw’s success can be attributed to the confidence with which it challenges the cage of toxic masculinity. These men are at their physical peak and seemingly invincible yet are concurrently tender and vulnerable.
Kevin Von Erich is played by the almost unrecognisable Zac Efron who delivers an outstanding, career-defining performance, conveying so much raw emotion and pain with a simple look. With this role, he is demanding to be taken seriously as a dramatic actor and now, almost certainly will. The only request made by the real Kevin Von Erich during the making of the film was that he wanted the audience to know how much the brothers loved one another. This unconditional love is made clear in a scene towards the start of the film during Pam and Kevin’s first date. When asked by Pam what his life dream is, Kevin reveals that it is to simply “just be” with his brothers.
The beatings the brothers endure in the ring seem to pale in comparison to the emotional beatings they suffer at the hands of the family patriarch
Despite the film being a biopic inspired by the true story of this wrestling family, their immense loss isn’t merely being shown to you – you are feeling it with them. The first third of the film focuses heavily on constructing a sense of profound brotherly love between the siblings as they are shown to be fiercely loyal and protective of one another. Therefore, going into the rest of the film, you really feel how every loss takes a piece of the surviving brothers with them and further fractures this ‘cursed’ family.
Fritz Von Erich, played by Holt McCallany, is the textbook case of the father with broken dreams living vicariously through the lives and successes of his sons, working them down to the bone day after day. The beatings the brothers endure in the ring seem to pale in comparison to the emotional beatings they suffer at the hands of the family patriarch. The Iron Claw is not only the title of Fritz Von Erich’s signature cranial-crushing finishing move in the ring, but it also encapsulates the iron-tight grip Fritz and the profession have over the family. They are trapped within his legacy; his iron claw.
The Iron Claw offers an extraordinary cinematic experience in all regards, and the film’s score, composed by Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, and soundtrack are no exception. With a carefully crafted sound design and inspired needle drops, featuring songs such as Blue Oyster Cult’s ‘(Don’t) Fear The Reaper’ and Rush’s ‘Tom Sawyer’, the film’s music and audio components take you on a captivating journey in their own capacity.
My only gripe with the film is the omission of the sixth Von Erich brother, Chris. I discovered this only after watching the film and my heart broke for him. Sean Durkin told Vulture that removing Chris from the film was "the hardest decision [he] made”, but eventually concluded that “the movie just couldn’t withstand another brother’s death.” Cinematically speaking, I can understand Durkin’s reasoning behind this choice, but with the film’s focus on brotherhood, Chris’ erasure leaves a bitter taste.
Ultimately, The Iron Claw is an incredibly tender and heart-shattering film that never feels like pain for the sake of pain. It is not merely a film about wrestling, but rather it is a story of loss, masculinity, and brotherhood, and its emotional weight will stick with you long after you leave the cinema.