The Iron Claw
Written and Directed by Sean Durkin
Starring Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Holt McCallany and Stanley Simons
Running time 2 hours and 10 minutes
MPAA Rating R for R some sexuality, language, drug use, and suicide
In theaters December 22

by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport & Editor in Chief

“We loved our father and we loved wrestling.”

Parents are not chosen. The task to nurture and provide guidance is a responsibility that many take lightly. Regardless of the quality of effort, the impact on a being’s formative years is grand. Despite all good intentions everyone is flawed in some way, and the effects from one’s parental units can cause ripple effects into adulthood that can be everlasting. Some overcome and persevere the obstacles, while others are caught in a patch of quicksand with no other alternative but to sink. Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw shows what happens when parents take no accountability for their actions and disregard all emotion in favor of the ultimate prize: a professional wrestling championship belt.

For most, the words “pro wrestling” conjure up stereotypical thoughts such as spandex, silly, outlandish, and fake. It is not just non-fans that have misconceptions of the sport, it is some of the enthusiasts as well. Being that pro wrestling is sports entertainment, it is meant to amuse and provide enjoyment; given that it is scripted, it means the outcome of the matches are predetermined. Few choose to see pro wrestling for what it truly is: an art form. It is an occupation that does not hesitate to give bruises, inside and out. As an admirer of the sport, I surprisingly went into The Iron Claw blind. I had heard about the Von Erich family in passing, but was nowhere near prepared for the somber tone that is present throughout the picture.

The story of the Von Erichs is tragic. Their name often remembered more for their struggles than accolades within the business. Throughout the film, there is a mention of the Von Erich curse by the family themselves due to their various mishaps in and out of the ring. In reading the recent article from Jen Yamato, it is my understanding that The Iron Claw may be missing a few pieces of the puzzle and took some liberties with the story, such as omitting the youngest brother of the brood. However, one can not look past the exemplary performances from the entire cast. Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich, Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich, and Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich all clearly prepared for their roles and sold me in terms of their in-ring abilities. Although, the stand out performance came from Maura Tierney. Her portrayal as the Von Erich boys’ mother Doris blew me away. Even with minimal screen time, she still managed to leave an impression. Witnessing the relationship with her husband, Fritz (Holt McCallany) broke my heart. With each calamity this woman faced, I felt you saw a piece of her die on screen.

The story itself tackles a lot of ground in what felt like a swift runtime, for a two hour plus length tale. Those that are not fans of pro wrestling will still find themselves riveted. Something I appreciated was that film addresses the misconception that pro wrestling is “fake”. As stated above, the stories may be written beforehand but to be a standout star, one has to rely on more than just smooth talking. An accomplished wrestler requires the ability to hold the audience’s attention with not just their physique, but their personality and the capability to take bumps as much as dole them out.

Despite the black cloud that seemed to hang over this family and follow them for so long, by the end of the film I still managed to leave the theater with hope. Kevin dominates the story and throughout the picture one sees his career ups and downs, his relationship with his wife, their struggles, and building their lives together. It is not until then that Kevin realizes that, to start living his own life, he needs to stop living the one his domineering father expects for him. This, of course, only comes after extreme hardships, sadness, and the cost of his brothers’ lives.

Initially, Kevin may come off as a mere country boy wrassler. Yet, to overcome and endure the vast amount of struggles he faced, it is clear his strength was more than just brawn.