The Iron Claw review
The Iron Claw has a nearly impossible task of providing the proper context of the Von Erich family’s heartbreaking tragedies within a two hours and 12-minute span. Devoting too much time to the tragic outcomes of the wrestling dynasty also does a disservice to their legacy.
This puts the film in a narrative headlock likely to frustrate wrestling fans who saw the Von Erich brothers as real-life superheroes. Viewers unfamiliar with the rich backstory of Fritz, Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris Von Erich might find the film more engaging and fascinating.
Per the unwritten rules of biopic director/screenwriter Sean Durkin plays very fast and loose with the facts and accurate timeline of events. This makes for some curious storytelling as Durkin seems unsure how much of the film to devote to the background of the wrestling family before rushing headfirst into the tragedies.
That’s not an enviable assignment. The Iron Claw could easily support a Durkin Cut with an additional two hours of content and still leave some useful information out. Durkin ultimately settles on the first hour of background and a second hour with the abridged version of the multiple tragedies.
Zac Efron stars as Kevin Von Erich, the default oldest brother of the Von Erich family. His father, Fritz (Holt McCallany), was a star of some acclaim still harboring resentment for never being selected NWA champion. Fritz is the worst soccer/pageant mom eager to experience the thrill and glory of his past through his children. As the owner/booker of World Class Championship Wrestling, Fritz has some stroke in the NWA board, but not enough to immediately get his son tabbed the man.
Not long after Kevin begins wrestling, David (Harris Dickinson), joins the family business. Getting actors that physically resemble the tall and mostly muscular Von Erichs is a tough challenge. Dickinson is the cast member that best resembles the wrestler.
Durkin crafts the script in a shorthand format. Wrestling fans will piece together the offhand remarks and tie the story together, but Durkin doesn’t offer much help for Von Erich rookies.
The wrestling choreography, essential to a movie about wrestlers, is solid although Durkin shoots too close to the combatants. This might be a result of trying to hide the crowd on set.
Far easier to shoot is the quickly blossoming relationship with Kevin and Pam (Lily James). Durkin rushes the courtship but shows how Pam is a stabilizing force for Kevin as he endures so much triumph and tragedy. James and Efron’s scenes contain some of the film’s best, most heartfelt moments.
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Durkin picks up the pace in introducing Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), the third brother whose athletic career was leading him to the Olympics before President Carter had the U.S. sit out the Moscow games. That’s a rough blow for Fritz who has no problem telling his sons, including youngest Mike (Stanley Simons) that Kerry is his favorite.
White clearly put in the time to craft a more muscular physique. The problem is Kerry legit could pose as a stunt double for Arnold Schwarzenegger. At 5’7″ White just doesn’t have the same physical presence.
Fritz wouldn’t and shouldn’t win Father of the Year, but he probably wasn’t lacking for company in how he treated his sons with his early 80s contemporaries.
McCallany is superb in this role of the stern and demanding patriarch. Maura Tierney plays Friz’s wife, Doris, who seems used to him running roughshod over her sons and can’t get worked up over it any longer.
Time restraints limit Durkin from showing the rise of the Von Erichs on the national wrestling scene. A deal with neophyte sports channel ESPN made the three brothers early wrestling celebrities beyond their Texas-based territory.
For a period of time, WCCW was the biggest wrestling promotion in the U.S. thanks to the hottest angle with the three brothers battling The Fabulous Freebirds. The ‘Birds do get some screen time, but Durkin fails to convey how a big deal this yearslong rivalry was in keeping WCCW profitable. That’s key in explaining the pressures Fritz puts on the boys when tragedies start to mount.
Durkin also cuts the youngest brother, Chris, from the film. Not wanting to make the family tragedy too overbearing for viewers, Durkin opted to omit him. It’s a questionable choice since Chris — unlike Mike who’d rather pursue music — actually wanted to be in the business and his tragic end seems worse for being called redundant.
Using the second hour to cover the tragedies is tough. Kerry suffers a major injury to a wrestler that would otherwise make him inspirational. The pacing of the second hour doesn’t allow for much hope or happy moments. Instead, it’s just one disaster after another. Durkin actually works in the ill-fated Lance Von Erich (AEW wrestler MJF) storyline without context. A silly idea in real life. It could have been a welcome tragedy time-out for some cathartic laughs.
But in that disaster the cast gets to shine brightest. Efron tends to stick in lighter, sillier roles but he’s up to the challenge of this demanding dramatic role. He avoids the showy Oscar moment and offers a true living in the moment take of a brother powerless to protect his family. Durkin’s script dials into the idea that family is everything for the brothers and that theme is highly effective.
As the “superstar brother,” White could have had more screen time. He’s very good in the moments he has, but Kerry’s story largely feels underdeveloped. In fairness, Kerry could be the subject of an entire movie and most of the important bits are included in this ensemble. Simons captures the handle with care “baby brother” mentality of Mike.
For the problems that exist with The Iron Claw, Durkin treats the subject matter and wrestling with an appreciable level of respect. And the final scene neatly pulls the story together with a powerful moment likely to leave viewers just as emotional.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Photo Credit: A24
For another look at the Von Erichs check out: