The Iron Claw Is The Best Wrestling Film of This Decade

This past weekend, I decided to go to the movies with my brother. From there, we both chose to see The Iron Claw. For those unaware of the film’s plot, it details the lives and tragedies of the Von Erich wrestling family. Zac Efron stars as Kevin Von Erich, the oldest Von Erich, with Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich, and Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich, the father of the Von Erich. Along with them is Lily James as Pam Adkisson and Maura Tierney as Doris Von Erich, the mother of the Von Erich.

The film is well made with different perspectives on each brother to get a better idea of how they lived and differentiate themselves. Kevin is the protective brother, Kerry is the star athlete, David is the technician wrestler who’s great on the microphone, and Mike is the youthful and interested in music. It also shows how Fritz is hard on the brothers, pushing them to accomplish a goal he himself wasn’t able to achieve. The idea of getting the NWA World Heavyweight champion is a dream of the Von Erich family, but is it a dream worth needed?

As they get a chance to achieve this goal, we are also given a view how each brother bond, and also met their demise. Zac Efron plays Kevin great as a protective individual trying to protect his brothers, and his wife and kids, showing emotions that we rarely get to see from the actor. Seeing how Kevin becomes torn between his brothers and father, and his newly family with Pam and their kids. Jeremy Allen White gave the best performance, really playing Kerry well and most times captures the traits the real life wrestler. White really shows pride in success, and the pain, anger, and sorrow of Kerry’s tragic downfall. Harris Dickinson fits as David, showing a cheeky but helpful brother who cares for his family as well like Kevin. There’s a scene where Efron and Dickinson share many scenes, showing the loving brotherly bond between Kevin and David, before tragedy strikes the family with David being the first to pass away. As for Stanley Simons, he shows that Mike wants to be a musical rockstar, yet his family legacy prevents him from achieving his dream and costing an injury that affected him greatly. And as for Holt McCallany, he plays Fritz as a hardheaded father who is willing to push his own kids, even throughout the tragic moment, to achieve an opportunity of a lifetime. It makes you wonders if the supposed Von Erich curse is a mere coincidence driven by a harsh environment, or was it something out of family’s control. It’s ambitious and it’s up to the audiences to choose how to view the tragedy as. With all that, how is one the last 2023 film.

The film manages to be gripping and intense, despite showing how kayfabe worked in wrestling. Even though it’s a pro wrestling bio film, it’s a family drama. A family who is portrayed well and struggles with a curse that seems to get all but one brother. While it focus on one of the darkest moment in wrestling history, it also gives us a light how inseparable each brother are to one another. Given each other support, along with how competitive each of them are to make their father proud. And right at the very end, it’s very heartbreaking with Kevin finally giving up wrestling to be with his own family, supposedly keeping them from the curse’s harm’s way. Recommend watching this wrestling bio film.