‘The Iron Claw’ a respectful tale of family tragedy

Published 8:00 am Thursday, December 21, 2023

Zac Efron appears in a scene from “The Iron Claw.”

For longtime professional wrestling fans, the Von Erich family is a tale of tragic lore that feels like a modern day Greek tragedy.

The family’s story gets the theatrical treatment with “The Iron Claw,” the latest from writer/director Sean Durkin. The man behind “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “The Nest” has taken this story and turned it into an emotional experience – one that is respectful to the Von Erich legacy. It’s a film that is a must for wrestling fans, but a film that will also resonate with anyone who doesn’t know a suplex from a body slam.

For those unfamiliar with the Von Erich saga, Durkin’s screenplay hits all the main marks in “The Iron Claw.” (The film begins with a title card that says “Inspired by a true story” with Durkin taking a few liberties with the story for cinematic effect).

The film tells of the rise of the Von Erich family in the wrestling world. Led by the patriarch Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) the Von Erichs rose to unprecedented heights in their home state of Texas and throughout the world in the 1980s. Four of Fritz’s sons, led by Kevin (Zac Efron), the brothers were constantly pushed by their father – a driving force behind their careers.

The story has anything but a happy ending with three of the brothers, Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickenson) and Mike (Stanley Simmons), all suffering personal tragedies. 

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Durkin uses this story to show the power of family bonds and the quest for creating a legacy with a delicate touch that conveys plenty of emotion without veering into sappy melodrama.

Efron is very good in the lead role, a performance that features a physical transformation to go with the low-key almost understated work of a man who is trying to do everything he can to keep his family together.

The supporting cast is strong as well, especially McCallany – who clearly meant the best for his sons, but was perhaps a little too demanding in the way he went about it.

Wrestling fans might be a little taken aback by some creative decisions. One of which is where Von Erich is completely omitted, while the timeline doesn’t always line up with how the story really unfolded. Still, the basics are there and as someone very familiar with the story going in, I appreciated how those decisions led to a stronger cinematic narrative (with a wonderfully unique spin that actually makes this more uplifting than one might think considering the subject matter).

It allows “The Iron Claw” to be more than just a wrestling film. It’s a tragic story that everyone can identify with – a tale of love and loss that really packs an emotional punch.

Starring: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White

Directed by: Sean Durkin

Rating: R for some sexuality, language, drug use and suicide

Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)

Grade: B+