Then. Now. Forever. If those three words trigger a response out of you, then you’re a wrestling fan. If the image of a panda smashing a chair over another panda with the letters WWF presented around it evokes a smile or even a chuckle, then you’re familiar with the World Wrestling Federation and chances are you know the name Von Erich. Sean Durkin’s newest feature, The Iron Claw, brings the Von Erich family story to the big screen with performances that will be the defining moment in many careers and a story that is heartbreaking and inspiring. This true story is captivating, intriguing, and inspirational and acts as a beautiful vehicle to tell the true story of one of wrestling’s first families.
L: Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich in THE IRON CLAW. Photo Credit: Brian Roedel. Photo courtesy of A24.
The story of the Von Erichs focuses on the hierarchy of Fritz (Holt McCallany) and his three sons Kevin (Zac Efron), David (Harris Dickinson) and Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) as they work their way through the territories and claim championship gold. While the movie mainly is set in the ‘70s and early ‘80s, there are moments where we go back to the true territory days where Fritz was doing everything he could to carve out a name for the Von Erichs and etch a future for his children. While wrestling in the ‘60s, and, to an extent, even today, was cheesier and more unrealistic in terms of “finishers,” Fritz used a move he called The Iron Claw, which was him throwing his open palm on your face and essentially crushing your skull. A move like this, one would think wouldn’t incapacitate an opponent, but, alas, it was the finisher that Von Erich used (Mick Foley, another name enshrouded in wrestling lore, used a move he called the mandible claw, essentially a large fish hook that he used to defeat his opponents.)
L-R: Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich, Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich, and Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich in THE IRON CLAW. Photo Credit: Brian Roedel. Photo courtesy of A24.
While Fritz may be a notorious villain inside the ring, outside of the ring, he is the king of the home and the family with a “respect is not given it is earned” kind of mentality. He runs his family conservatively, but the goal is and always was to ensure that his sons continued the legacy, and to ensure that the Von Erich name would go down in history as one of the greats in the wrestling families. At the centre of this is Kevin, who is the wrestling dynamo that his father always wanted him to be, even if the lines were blurred between coach and father. Fritz was so determined to ensure that the name Von Erich would become synonymous with “great” that he ensured his family would be ranked amongst themselves to see who was the best, who earned the most affection of the family, and who was the top dog in the family. On the other side of this wish though, is what some people would dub the Von Erich Curse. While a curse is slightly an over exaggeration, it does focus on death and it could be argued that it is the fault of Fritz himself as he pushes the family too hard and forces them to fight each other and ensure that they earn their fathers love and respect. The Iron Claw focuses on the Von Erich name, the family members’ paths, and the road to glory with all the obstacles they had to overcome, and shows the darker side of wrestling and how it’s not all fake, but more often than not a lifestyle and life that is not meant for everybody.
L-R: Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich and Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich in THE IRON CLAW. Photo Credit: Brian Roedel. Photo courtesy of A24.
What brings The Iron Claw together though, aside from Sean Durkin’s direction, is the script he provided and the performances he elicits from his cast. Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman) delivers what can only be described as a career highlight and deserves recognition for his performance. It is astonishing what Efron does in the role, aside from the physical transformation, brining emotional range and depth along with the brilliance of heart and soul to the forefront, completely engrossed in the character. Jeremy Allen White (The Rental) as Kerry, who ends up professionally being the success story, is also phenomenal in the role. While having to bring a different approach to the role, he manages to exude confidence and prestige in his performance, leaving the audience in sheer disbelief. Lastly, Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness) goes through a transformation as David Von Erich which leaves audience in disbelief that this is the same actor from Triangle of Sadness. Together, White, Dickinson and Efron bring these performances to a new level of excellence and capture the lives and family drama that engrossed the Von Erich family, allowing audiences to discover one of the first families of wrestling.
In theaters December 22nd, 2023.
For more information, head to the official A24 The Iron Claw webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: In Theaters, Reviews
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