Culture Cabinet

*This review contains mild spoilers. 

The Iron Claw tells the true story of the Von Erich family, who garnered fame in the 1970s and 1980s for their wrestling careers and tragic personal lives. The film follows brothers Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson), and Mike (Stanley Simons), four brothers who are growing up in Texas, under the watchful and strict eye of their father, Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany).

Fritz, a former wrestler himself, puts mounting pressure on the boys to become professional athletes, forcefully impressing his own dream of having a Von Erich win a heavy-weight championship on his sons. This, of course, leads to complex family dynamics, as the boys constantly struggle for their father’s fleeting approval, but they take solace in the close relationship they share with each other. As the Von Erich brothers navigate increasing challenges within their personal and professional lives, Kevin finds himself fighting to save his family from personal tragedy. 

Those unfamiliar with the Von Erich’s story are surely in for an emotional gut punch, from which the film will not let up. The screenplay is equal parts heartfelt and heartbreaking, and it really allows the audience to care about each individual brother. This only makes the unraveling of the story all the more emotional, though it struggles a bit with its pacing. While Kevin is the clear focus of the overall story, at its core, the film really seeks to tell the story of all four brothers.

The sensitive nature of the subject matter poses a challenge: it feels insensitive to the real-life subjects of the story to reduce every plot line to the tragedy, but it’s an unavoidable and integral part of the overall narrative of the family. There has to be enough backstory to properly flush out the each brother’s individual storylines, while managing to pack in nearly thirty years worth of story. While the pacing can sometimes feel a little too “push-pull” on the tensity of the story, it doesn’t suffer too much for it. Albeit, the choice to cut out the story of Chris Von Erich, who was also a wrestler, feels a bit of a disservice to the family, and only furthers the point that the screenplay bites off a bit more than it can chew at times. 

However, the performances are what really sells the film. Over the years, Zac Efron has given a fair few performances that prove that there is a bona fide actor buried underneath the Disney shell that so many former child stars struggle to shake. Here, Efron is at his best. He leads the film perfectly, but much like the man he’s portraying, he knows when to surrender the spotlight. His performance strikes the perfect balance of power and vulnerability, offering the audience an honest and raw take on the negative impacts of toxic masculinity.

Jeremy Allen White also gives a standout performance as Kerry, the near-Olympian-turned-wrestler and oldest brother. Though, the film is a true ensemble piece, with all four brothers fostering such a sense of fraternalism. While Fritz is not particularly a sympathetic character, his own dynamic with each of his sons feels palpable, giving the audience a reason to want to see each son succeed and hopefully finally win his father’s approval. 

This film also serves as a testament to the need to give credit to stunt work in the film accolades sphere. The wrestling scenes are action-packed and tense, with every thud of every punch, kick, slap, and fall being edited perfectly. From a production design standpoint, the film seamlessly transports the audience through nearly three decades in time, driving the passage of time well and making it easy for the audience to follow. 

While The Iron Claw may seem like a wrestling film on its surface, the story it tells is appealing to anyone, even those with no interest or understanding of wrestling. It serves as a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of fame, a commentary on toxic masculinity, and a heartfelt family story. The result of which is a worthwhile and emotional journey.