"The Iron Claw,” a tale centered on the real world of professional wrestling, vividly parallells its over-the-top theatric representation. Alas, it merely scratches the surface of an incredibly powerful storyline tied to the renowned Von Erich wrestling family.
"The Iron Claw" weaves a real-life tale of drama and tragedy around the Von Erich clan of Texas wrestlers. Sean Durkin, the writer-director, has gathered an enviable cast to recreate this family saga, including Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Holt McCallany. Yet, the performances seem perpetually stuck in their established roles, showing limited character evolution despite the calamitous journey of the family from the mid-1980s to the early ‘90s.
Efron, embodying Kevin Von Erich's good-hearted spirit, merely strives to foster brotherly unity. Dickinson, portraying David Von Erich, grapples with the guilt of overtaking Kevin as the family's linchpin. Mike Von Erich, the youngest, performed by Stanley Simons, shows no interest in wrestling, instead wanting to pursue music. However, like his siblings, he battles to conform and gain his father's approval. McCallany assumes the role of the intimidating patriarch Fritz Von Erich, who stirs his children into rivalry and stresses his vast ambitions onto them, yet remains constant in his character depiction.
Interestingly, the significant character omission in "The Iron Claw” is the youngest Von Erich sibling, Chris. Durkin's defense to omit Chris is its narrative advantage. Yet, the erasure of a character implying the deep-seated familial bond and the insular toxicity seems inexplicable given that the heart of "The Iron Claw" is about the fraternal strength and the family's destructive insularity.
Durkin's two previous successful features, “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” featuring Elizabeth Olsen, and the overlooked “The Nest,” featuring Carrie Coon and Jude Law, cast a long shadow over this current production. Cinematographer Mátyás Erdély, however, achieves an intriguing and tense aura, suggesting a latent explosion bubbling under the surface.
Unfortunately, the movie leaves its audience disconnected from the authentic human bond among the brothers. Lily James, playing Pam, the fan who becomes Kevin’s wife and mother to his kids, provides some spirited scenes, although their discussions are often one-note.
"The Iron Claw" does provide a stylish viewing experience, opening with Fritz’s black-and-white 1960s wrestling scenes. It revels in the garish, time-specific trend of what many would now consider gaudy clothes and appalling hairstyles. And an energetic montage of the Von Erichs chancing upon their iconic anthem-Rush’s “Tom Sawyer”-is reminiscent of a Scorsese single-shot.
Amplifying the impressive physical transformations of the cast, Efron, already toned, converts himself into such a formidable figure, he is hardly recognizable as the actor. Jeremy Allen White, albeit not matching Kerry Von Erich’s towering height, brings a simmering intensity. Sadly, their dedication seems squandered, in light of the underdeveloped roles. Despite being faced with emotional challenges, Efron delivers his best performance yet. Playing the family’s matriarch, Maura Tierney exudes a tangible sense of loss.
Ultimately, "The Iron Claw" often sacrifices character evolution to encapsulate more historical milestones. The introduction of magical realism at the conclusion is oddly disjointed. Notably, the absence of Chris Von Erich feels more conspicuous here. While dedicated wrestling fans may relish this nostalgic journey, casual viewers might be compelled to forfeit.
