REVIEW: The Iron Claw (2023)

Movie Reviews

The Iron Claw tells the true story of the Von Erichs, one of the greatest wrestling families of all time. This film is the latest from A24 and writer/director Sean Durkin, and while I don’t follow sports, the cast drew my attention. I actually saw this movie on Christmas Day, which I wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing. Sports stories can be among the most powerful, even for people like me who don’t enjoy sports. The trials and tribulations faced by athletes can be applied to almost any facet of life, and everyone loves a good underdog or comeback story. The Iron Claw is neither of these, and it might be for the best that you don’t go in expecting such.

Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany, Mindhunter) is one of the most ruthless men ever to stride into the ring. He breeds his sons, Kevin (Zac Efron, High School Musical), David (Harris Dickinson, Trust, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,) Kerry (Jeremy Allen White, The Bear), and Mike (Stanley Simons) to become the world heavyweight champion. Kevin even tells his girlfriend Pam (Lily James, Cinderella, Downton Abbey) that becoming champion is what he wants in life. But part of Fritz’s regimen for the boys involves making them jostle for his favor, and his favorite at any given moment gets more opportunities. Fritz’s high expectations and cruel behavior tear the Von Erich family apart as Kevin struggles to build a family and life of his own.

Not being a wrestling fan, I didn’t know anything about this family going in. I didn’t even realize The Iron Claw was based on true events. My husband usually provides background with sports movies, but he hates wrestling! This worked to the film’s advantage for me, as every turn shocked me. I had no idea this was such a sad story. I probably wouldn’t have chosen to see The Iron Claw on Christmas for that reason, but I’m glad I saw it. The cast makes this movie; I’m not saying it would be bad otherwise, but Zac Efron and Holt McCallany, in particular, are spectacular in very different roles. I really connected with Kevin Von Erich, as played by Efron. I’m the oldest sibling, too, and I often felt compelled to protect and care for my siblings. In some ways, Kevin is more of a father figure to his brothers than Fritz is to any of them. The love Kevin has for his brothers, especially the way he tries to protect Mike, is beyond touching.

Fritz is the dictionary definition of a narcissist. He claims everything he does is for his enormous family, but he sees his children as extensions of his own personality and goals. He tells Kerry he wouldn’t wish for any of his boys to go into wrestling, but he all but forces them to follow his path. When the family experiences a death, he simply tells his sons, “I don’t want to see any tears” at the funeral. This guy is a nightmare! All the tenderness the brothers feel for one another is in spite of their parents. Fritz discourages any and all shows of emotion, insisting his sons be “men.” We’ve all known someone like this: a man never cries, handles all problems silently, etc. I’m surprised he allows the boys to hug after successful matches. Fritz struggles to see anything beyond himself and what he wants for his family. If you’re wondering, their mother, Doris (Maura Tierney), isn’t much better. She’s a little bit softer but refuses to step in when Kevin tells her Fritz is mistreating Mike. Both parents say, “That’s between them; they need to work it out,” in the movie, refusing to protect their family. I understand wanting your kids to resolve conflicts amongst themselves, especially once they’re grown. But when your son tells you he’s worried about his brother’s mental health and safety, I don’t understand how that isn’t a major priority and failing to do the bare minimum of caring about your children. Fritz is very different from McCallany’s role as Bill in Mindhunter. Both are fathers who struggle to express their feelings, but Bill is ultimately a caring man. He loves his wife and son and wants to fix things in his family. Fritz is like a force of nature, a hurricane: all he knows is destruction. What he claims to love, he will inevitably destroy in his pursuit of greatness, of the heavyweight champion belt. Fritz pays lip service to loving Doris and their sons, but at the end of the day, he only loves himself and the game.

The rest of the cast is good as well; I just found Efron and McCallany to be the standouts. Harris Dickinson is endearing as David, the apparent favorite son and talented speaker. He doesn’t relish being put on a pedestal; he always reminds Kevin, in particular, that he’s talented too. Despite Fritz’s best efforts, he can’t shatter the relationships between his sons. They ultimately care about each other and won’t throw one another under the bus to gain favor. I haven’t seen The Bear, but to my understanding, that’s what Jeremy Allen White is best known for. I liked him as Kerry, but I feel he got less focus than the other Von Erich brothers. Stanley Simons is the actor I’m least familiar with among the brothers, and Mike is possibly the most mistreated by his parents. Mike is interested in music, playing guitar and singing proficiently with a band. They even get paid! I don’t know if this was part of the Satanic panic or what I hesitate to call Fritz’s fragile masculinity, but both parents disapprove. Fritz says there’s no future in music, and Doris is religious, so you can guess what reasoning she offers. Mike is the youngest and most sensitive, needing the most guidance and understanding from his parents. He’s still a child when the story begins, but Fritz perceives his lack of interest in sports as a weakness and rejects the boy. I love Lily James’ I’ve loved her since Cinderella, and she’s never disappointed me. Even when she’s in subpar films, she’s the best part (Yesterday). Pam doesn’t have the most screen time in the film, but she serves as a support for Kevin that his brothers aren’t lucky enough to have. I don’t think this role is very challenging, but James is good in it. As always, she shows up and does her job.

Kevin’s relationship with Pam is surprisingly healthy and wholesome. But the two most interesting facts of the story are the brothers and the way Fritz treats them and acts in general. Kevin’s love for his brothers is the heart of this movie, and at times, it’s heartbreaking. I made it almost the whole way, but he says a certain line near the end that broke me. If you see The Iron Claw, I think you’ll know which one I mean. This movie is very efficient at establishing who Fritz is and how it informs the men his children will become. The very first scene is in black and white, showing Fritz using his signature move, for which the film is named. We see Fritz’s brutality and lack of concern for other people before we see anything else. This man is ruthless and powerful, and he will do anything to end up on top. This opening took me aback, but it’s brilliant because everything that follows ties back into it. The Iron Claw displays the best and the worst that humanity has to offer: humanity, empathy, and love for one’s family, right alongside the embodiment of our darkest, most animalistic impulses.