“The Iron Claw” written & directed by Sean Durkin; starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons with Holt McCallany and Lily James / Z-View

The Iron Claw (2023)

Director:  Sean Durkin

Screenplay: Sean Durkin

Stars: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Stanley Simons, Lily James, Chavo Guerrero Jr., Garrett Hammond, Cazzey Louis Cereghino, Kevin Anton, Michael Papajohn and Holt McCallany.

Tagline:  Sons. Brothers. Champions.

The Plot…

The Von Erich family is known in professional wrestling circles not only for their legendary rise to the top, but also the multiple tragedies they suffered along the way.

Fritz Von Erich, although a successful professional wrestler, never became champion.  This left him bitter.  Fritz had five sons.  One died tragically at an early age.  The four others were given a strict upbringing and became professional wrestlers.  Fritz pinned his dream of winning a championship on his sons.  This brought the boys closer together.

A championship was in the family’s future, but also the tragedies of three more sons dying along the way.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)… 

The Iron Claw is the true story of the Von Erich family.  Some changes were made to timeline of events, which is expected since the film isn’t a documentary.  The family was said to be cursed.  There were even more family deaths than appear in the film.

Holt McCallany is excellent as Fritz Von Erich.

I have never seen a part more miscast than that of Aaron Dean Eisenberg as Ric Flair.

The Iron Claw (2023) rates 4 of 5 stars.