The Iron Claw is a 2023 A24 release directed by Sean Durkin and starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James, and Holt McCallany. It followed the tragic life of the Von Erichs, a pro wrestling royalty family. Being a major pro wrestling fan and knowing the story of the Von Erichs, I knew that this movie was going to a tough and emotional ride, but one that I couldn’t wait to see adapted to the big screen. Sean Durkin, being a wrestling fan himself, did the family justice and produced a well-acted and well put together story that fans of classic or modern wrestling can dig as well as movie fans that may not exactly cross over into the wrestling world. Kevin Von Erich apparently told Sean after he saw the movie that he felt like he understood what it was like to take a walk in his boots and if it means anything, that is a compliment of the highest degree. The film was full of actual wrestling scenes as well as scenes of brotherly and familial love, romance, drama, and tragedy. I don’t want to spoil too much in case there is people that don’t know the backstory to the Von Erich family (if you don’t, don’t look it up before seeing this movie) but for those that do know, which I’d assume would be most the people that are going to draw appeal to this movie, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. As a wrestling fan this movie gave me moments where I felt pure joy and warmth as well as moments of pure dread knowing I’d have to face the inevitable.
It was neat as a fan to see and hear some of the classic names from the territory days of wrestling pop up in this film, with the likes of Harley Race, Bruiser Brody, The Sheik, Ric Flair, The Freebirds, and more making a cameo appearance to recreate some of the matches and moments they shared with the Von Erichs back in the day. The interpretation of Ric Flair was pretty rough, definitely a little cringeworthy at best if you’re a wrestling fan. The man is such a flashy, larger than life personality that it seems like he would be easy enough to impersonate, like Elvis for example, but this guy didn’t really seem like he knew what he was doing with it, and it showed. The Bruiser Brody and Harley Race were pretty well-done recreations though and looked the part nicely. Zac Efron and Holt McCallany were the standout performances of the movie for me though, playing Kevin and Fritz Von Erich respectably. I haven’t seen near all of Zac’s filmography by any means, but this is the best performance I have ever seen him give. He truly had to act here to display all of the emotions from happy, to falling in love, to disappointment, to shock, to depression and he nailed this role and the ability to portray the emotions within Kevin himself during that time. Holt did very well as Fritz too, he seemed to play a very honest and vulnerable version of the man. He loved his boys but sometimes he didn’t always translate that the best. He was a tough, hardnosed southern man born in the 20s so clearly, he didn’t always know how to properly express his emotions or his feelings for his sons. He wasn’t a man of hugs but instead handshakes, he didn’t often tell his sons he was proud of them but instead pushed and motivated them to continue to get better and better, and he sure as hell didn’t want to see them cry, no matter how much of a tragedy they were faced with. I feel like his dream was always to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and when he didn’t get the opportunity himself during his career, he really pushed for and wanted to see his boys hold the belt to live out his dream in one way or another, no matter what the boys’ dreams or aspirations were.
All in all, if you’re a wrestling this is a must watch, but even if you aren’t this movie tells a great, real-life story about a family and a band of brothers who rose to fame and prominence together and suffered major tragedy along the way. It pulls at your heart strings at times and is painful to imagine one family going through so much, but it’s real and it’s true and it’s done with respect and love.
