The Iron Claw

The Von Erich's were always this odd story I heard when I was a kid. The wrestling family that kicked off what is now the professional wrestling dynasty. They were the superstars that also saddled with one of the darkest most bizarre curse. If you think about the tragedy of Chris Benoit, someone would always bring up the Von Erich's.

The story is centered around Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron), mostly because the tale can only be told through his window. A Texas family whose father Fritz (Holt McCallany) desperately wanted to be at the top of the game. He molded his sons to follow in his footsteps. Cold and focused, he is the father of that era that most today would consider abusive. Back then, to get greatness, sacrifice must be endured. In this case, the early wild death of the eldest brother Jack (who is never really addressed completely) since he was a baby when he passed from an electrocution accident. From that point on, the family presses forward.

There is a dark cloud that hangs over the family, yet no one completely addresses it directly. The Von Erich curse seemed to be a real thing. And as a youngster, I always waited for the next Von Erich to die a weird death. Grim as it may seem.

The brothers wake up and eat, drink and breathe wrestling. But there is a hierarchy. Broken down by the Fritz. The brothers are meant to compete with each other for the approval of Dad.

There is also David (Harris Dickinson) and Kerry (Jeremy Allan White) but not mentioned...a brother Chris. I only knew Kerry, since he made it to the WWF.

This at-the-fringe federation of wrestlers were in the NWA, which I always considered the low-rent of wrestling, as if there were such a thing.

Kevin marries Pam (Lily James) who is really the most normal of the gang. The mother. Doris (Maura Tierney) seems to be just trying to placate Fritz but also focus on God.

I truly miss this type of filmmaking. It is a story of family and tragedy and how they cope with it. Which sometimes I wish they showed more of that and less of the wrestling. This movie's emotional core stuck with me. Though, there are moments that drag, when you think about how awful events followed this family, you are left wondering how they were able to move forward.

The answer isn't very clear. These are the moments I wish focused more on Kevin's resilience. Instead, we see he truly believes the family curse. And that would be enough. Perhaps the emotionally absent mother answers the question of pain and loss. There is a great moment when all the death occurs, Mom doesn't know how to cope. Because of her faith, you read the thought bubble which is asking God "why am I being tested" a brilliant move by director Sean Durkin NOT to have her say this outloud.

One thing that may trouble some viewers is the Fritz's dialogue. At first, I considered it horrible acting. Then it occurred to me. He has been a showboat to audiences most his life. It isn't too far of a stretch that he knows no other way to communicate. He is a tough guy who relies on his sons to be equally as tough. Though he isn't that way at first, he downshifts into it with the success of the family.

There's so much to unpack here.

Mass kudos to Zac Efron. A brilliant piece of acting which should get him an Oscar nom (perhaps the Academy will never take him seriously...they should). In spite of his stoic mannerisms, Efron still exudes thought processes. In this case, tough guys aren't suppose to cry. But we cry for him.

Wonderful work. This is a must to see in theaters. A small screen will not show the subtle performances.

The film's visual narrative is meticulously crafted, with every frame thoughtfully composed to not only tell a story but to also immerse viewers into its atmospheric depth. The cinematography is indeed a standout, utilizing innovative camera techniques and lighting to accentuate the mood, tone, and overall aesthetic of the film.

Moreover, the acting in "Iron Claw" is nothing short of remarkable. The cast delivers performances that are deeply nuanced and emotionally resonant, bringing their characters to life with authenticity and complexity. Through their skillful portrayals, the actors navigate the intricate dynamics of their roles with finesse, making the audience invest in their journeys. The chemistry among the cast further amplifies the film's emotional impact, making the relationships and conflicts more compelling.

In combination, the film's well-executed cinematography and stellar acting not only enhance the storytelling but also create a rich, cinematic texture that is both engaging and thought-provoking. "Iron Claw" stands as a testament to the power of visual storytelling and the art of performance, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate the craft of filmmaking.

Just brutal. Could you imagine your family's story being so depressing they had to tone it DOWN for an A24 movie? Just wow. RIP Chris Von Erich, hopefully your story will be told too someday.

There were a lot of pros to this movie. While Zac Efron and Jeremy White knocked it out of the park, it was a little difficult imagining them as 6'2 wrestlers. But hey I was willing to stretch my disbelief. The Tom Sawyer montage was kickass and I'd be lying if I didn't cry my eyes out at the end. Solid acting and definitely an interesting story.

Having said that, when you read the actual Von Erich story it's far more interesting than what the Iron Claw had to offer. It seemed like the studio wanted more of a basic three act drama than the insanely tragic lives the Von Erich's endured. So many lines in the script were so over the top I basically felt like I was being spoon fed by the director. Almost nothing was subtle that it some scenes felt reminiscent of Walk Hard. Some sections of the movie dragged and it seemed like the director just wanted to get from point A to B without really engaging the audience.

Overall a decent flick, well acted and certainly had some good scenes. If only there were a stronger script and better director maybe a less Hollywood Von Erich story could have been told.

For 2023 it's nice to see a film in theater that is high caliber. The Iron Claw hits on many different levels and tells a story with conviction and care.

The acting was convincing and the size of Zac Efron is flat out impressive (regardless if supplements were involved). In terms of drama, Efron is subtle mostly, but really shines in the final scene of the movie.

The pace is just about perfect. There is no meandering or long drawn out sequences that make you want to check the time. There are a few jumps in years but you don't get confused how much time has passed, keeping the audience engaged and not figuring out timelines.

The movie is based on a true story and has a lot of tragic moments, but there is also hope which helps balance the tone. The Iron Claw is a good movie and I'm sure will be up for an Oscar or two. It's also nice to watch a movie in this day and age that doesn't have any political undertones that it's trying to convey to the audience, just pure storytelling.

I went into this film not knowing anything about the Von Erich family. I thought this would be a typical sports movie centered around wrestling. Fortunately, this film was more than that. It touched on many topics like brotherhood, father son dynamics and grief. This film was way more tragic than anything I could have thought of and what makes it crazy is that it's all true.

The acting was very good in this film and all the relationships were believable except for how quickly Kevin and Pam got together.

All of the actors playing the brothers had great chemistry. The motives and decisions of all the characters were well executed. The wrestling scenes were well done even though this film was less about wrestling and more about the family.

While I enjoyed this film, I did feel that it could have been longer. Some of the events felt rushed and crammed together. More major wrestling events should have been added to show some of the wrestling politics. The wives in the film played very minimal roles in the film and it was hard to believe that they weren't more involved in real life.

With that said this was still a gripping and memorable film that deserves to be watched.