Allegedly writer and director Sean Durkin had to water down the story of the Von Erich family because he didn’t think audiences would fully buy or comprehend such misery could befall one family in reality. For those that are in the know, they understand the all too heartbreaking tale of the Von Erich family and their wrestling dynasty. While they and many blame the alleged “curse,” what ultimately tainted them and their success was a combination of toxic masculinity, a seemingly relentless father who demanded too much from men that were ultimately human, and a profession that is still notorious for its high mortality rate, and ability to destroy its performers time and time again.
“The Iron Claw” is a heartbreaking but riveting true story of the Von Erich family, guided by a slew of wonderful often amazing performances. In particular Zac Efron really is at the best he’s ever been as Kevin Von Erich. As the oldest of his tribe of brothers (he points out often it’s by default since their actual older brother died at a very young age), he’s tasked with taking on the pressures of his father Fritz. Fritz is a man guided by immense pride and destroyed any and all passion his sons had in favor of what he deemed the more fiscally sensible trade of professional wrestling.
While he is often very good at talking a big game, he never expresses the inherent risks of the wrestling world, discouraging any and all conveyance of fear or anxiety. This allows his sons to virtually self destruct as they begin to lose their lives one by one resulting in a seemingly unending process of sadness and loss. While “The Iron Claw” has every chance to fall prey to melodrama and exploitation, it’s a very respectful and humble depiction of a well meaning family with a love for performing.
Efron is just one of a marvelous cast that include Lily James as Kevin’s long suffering wife, Maura Tierney as the pious matriarch of the family, Harris Dickinson as the lesser appreciated David, and Jeremy Allen White as Kerry. He’s a clear cut example of his father’s ability of persuasion as he’s established as a potential Olympian who is convinced by Fritz to join the sport. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Holt McCallany who is just immense as the gruff, and rotten patriarch Fritz Von Erich, the once aspiring wrestler who pushes his sons to the very edge in order to fulfill dreams of being the champion he could never quite accomplish.
Although “The Iron Claw” doesn’t pin the majority of the tragedy on Fritz, writer Durkin is clever enough to only explain him as a symptom of the family’s downfall, depicting him as a man who places little value in emotions, and vulnerability. “The Iron Claw” is just a masterful film, one filled with gut wrenching tragedy, and a truly compelling back story that, is sadly just one in a nigh endless array of tragic back stories of the wrestling profession.
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