"The Iron Claw" - Film Review
The Iron Claw is an American tragedy. There’s no other way to describe the true story of the Von Erich brothers, who rose to wrestling fame in the ’70s and ’80s, but the movie doesn’t begin with loss. In fact, as the hazy Texas farmlands come into focus on the big screen, there’s an overwhelming sense of hope. The story of Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron) and his brothers, Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson), and Mike (Stanley Simons), shows the myth of the American Dream. Kevin and his family would say the tragedy that befell them is the supposed curse on the family, but observers know it’s not the result of a supernatural force. The culprit behind the misfortune of the Von Erichs is someone from within the family: the patriarch, Fritz (Holt McCallany). He pushes his sons to follow in his footsteps with absolutely no regard for their desires or feelings.
At the heart of The Iron Claw is the deep love shared among the brothers. Despite the pressure imposed on them by their father, there is an unbreakable connection. Kevin sums it up best when he says that, above all else, above any wrestling prestige he could earn, the thing that matters most to him is spending time with his brothers. They float down the river together, drink beer, sneak out of the house to help Mike get to his band’s first gig, and become an unstoppable triple-team force in the wrestling ring. None of the fame matters to the brothers if they have to go it alone. In this world of brutal, intense ideals of masculinity, there’s a gentleness to all of the brothers. They hold each other tightly, but with a softness that was never shown to them by their parents. They’re each other’s biggest competitors and cheerleaders, but their competitive nature never stands in the way of the compassion they have for one another. Their relationship shows a break in the intergenerational trauma. They give each other the kindness and support their father refused to pass on because he was afraid of showing weakness. Fritz never learned that the strength his sons had was only because of their profound love for one another.
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With all this talk about brotherly love, it is important to mention that there’s another Von Erich brother who wasn’t featured in the movie: Chris. Writer/director Sean Durkin told Vulture that Chris’ story wasn’t included because his death would have been too much for the film. Durkin also mentions that there were talks of originally telling the tale of the Von Erichs in miniseries format. From a storytelling point of view, it’s understandable that there’s a need to narrow the scope of the film’s subjects. Four brothers and their emotional/personal journeys is already a lot of ground to cover. Kerry, David, and Mike also take a backseat to Kevin because he acts as the film’s narrator. When, however, the film’s central thesis is the power of sibling love and support, the loss of a brother before the movie even begins feels uncomfortable.
There’s overwhelming compassion in The Iron Claw that gives way to indescribable loss. It’s a slow progression from the hopeful beginnings to the snowballing effects of Fritz’s trauma and its effect on the brothers. Of course the audience can see the writing on the wall, even if they weren’t wrestling fans in the ’70s and ’80s. It’s gut-wrenching to watch these boys do their best to bear their father’s abuse, then get turned away when they work up the confidence to ask for help. The performances by the brothers are earnest and tragic, hopeful and broken, but it is Efron who deserves recognition. Dickinson and White have had their fair share of rightful prestige, but Efron is still most known to viewers as the basketball player who dreamed of singing in the school musical in High School Musical. Fear not, HSM fans, Efron does lace up his dancing shoes and do a little two-step to John Denver’s “Thank God I’m a Country Boy,” but The Iron Claw is a reintroduction of sorts. While this might not be his Oscar-nomination year, his performance does beg the question as to how he has become trapped in goofy comedy roles when he has this much capacity for depth. It’s also important to note that Maura Tierney’s performance as the family matriarch is quietly devastating. A simple look from Tierney at a black dress on a bed is enough to reduce the audience to tears.
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The sprawling, epic nature of the Von Erich family’s loss makes it difficult for their story to be told in one movie. The script also has the burden of explaining the world of wrestling to newbies, which can lead to some moments of awkward exposition. The Iron Claw has managed to strip the glossiness away from the regular sheen of a biopic. Durkin clearly has respect and genuine curiosity for the Von Erich family. He wanted to make something that captured the essence of the glory and heartache of the Von Erichs. It’s a goal he accomplished, even with the few stumbles along the way. The Iron Claw is an American epic by way of a Greek tragedy. It’s a reminder of the power of family, and how that power can be both lifesaving and life-ending.
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