Film Review: ‘The Iron Claw’ is a Stunningly Heartbreaking Look at Brotherhood, Family, and an Unfathomable Tragedy

It’s okay not to be okay. We all should know that it’s a show of strength to admit when you’re in a bad place, not a display of weakness. This goes doubly for supposed tough guys. The Iron Claw, the true story of the Von Erich family of wrestlers, speaks to this with immense power. The family suffered tragedy throughout the years on a level one can barely comprehend, but what if some of them had been able to speak to their traumas? Would things have turned out differently? One can’t know, but this film depicts just how damaging keeping it all inside can be. It’s a fantastic sports movie, biopic, and character study, but as a look at why asking for help is crucial, it may well be an important one as well. It all adds up to one of the best and most moving works of 2023.

The Iron Claw obliterated me. Strong acting, impeccable filmmaking, and a timely message about mental health makes for a real stunner. I loved wrestling as a kid and have a passing knowledge of the Von Erich family, as well as the “Von Erich curse,” but not having that is no barrier for entry. Much like Raging Bull or Rocky doesn’t require you to be a boxing fan, this film does the same with wrestling.

The Von Erich family has wrestling in its blood. Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) wrestled in his younger days, confined to be a heel and never given a shot at being champion. As a father, he now manages his oldest living son (having already lost a boy years prior to an accidental death) Kevin Von Erich (Zac Efron). Kevin is talented and has a ton of potential, but isn’t naturally charismatic on the microphone. About to join him in the family business is David Von Erich (Harris Dickinson), who Fritz sees as potentially an even better bet than Kevin. Off training for the olympics is Kerry Von Erich (Jeremy Allen White), though when the United States boycotts the games, he looks to wrestling as well. Then, there’s Mike Von Erich (Stanley Simons), the youngest and least interested in being a wrestler. Fritz is the hardest on him, something Kevin brings to his mother Doris Von Erich (Maura Tierney), fearful that he’s being pushed too much. They’re intense, but they all clearly love each other. That love is about to be tested through tragedy.

Kevin marries Pam (Lily James) and starts a family, right as he sees David surpass him as Fritz’s favorite, as well as a title contender. At the same time, Kerry is there, right on Kevin’s tail. Of course, these brothers soon will begin meeting tragic fates, something that affects Kevin deeply right from the start. He’s worried that the curse is real, putting a strain on Pam and their children. It all builds to something I won’t discuss here, but really hammers home why this is a story so worth depicting, in all its heart and heartbreak.

Zac Efron has never been better, turning in one of the year’s very best performances. He shows you the utter decency of this man, as well as the paranoia that his family, who he loves with all his heart, is cursed. The chemistry he has with his siblings too is something to behold. Efron has always been underrated as an actor, full of charisma and charm, but here he puts it all together. Also delivering terrific work is Jeremy Allen White as the most tortured of the brothers. He has the most intense role and he delivers, including in a scene that had gasps in my premiere screening. White is a heavyweight, to be sure, and this is more evidence of it. Harris Dickinson and Stanley Simons have less screen time, but they don’t waste a moment of it. The former wears the weight of being the chosen one of the lot, while the latter shows his passion for music in a beautiful scene. The male central characters are rounded out by patriarch Holt McCallany, who intimidates while also showing his love for his family. That dichotomy is wonderfully displayed, as this is one of the more complex characters of the year. As for the women, Lily James is rock solid as the outsider, while Maura Tierney does so much as the matriarch with just her eyes. A certain scene that’s repeated throughout the film will wreck you. Supporting turns here also include the likes of Kevin Anton, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Michael Harney, and more.

Filmmaker Sean Durkin has already made two strong films in Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Nest, but The Iron Claw is, to date, his masterpiece. The control he has on display is incredible, making the brotherly love so palpable, as well as the affection for the career of choice. The sport aspect of wrestling, as well as the impact is has on the actual wrestlers, is never taken for granted. Durkin’s direction makes every match visceral but also oddly beautiful. His writing invests you in every member of the Von Erich clan. Then, there’s his decision to include one sequence that ventures away from fact to speculation. I wouldn’t dare say what it is, but you’ll know it when you see it. A moment within that scene brought out perhaps my hardest tears of 2023. It’s perfectly handled. I stand in awe of Durkin’s work here.

In a perfect world, The Iron Claw would be one of the biggest Oscar contenders here in 2023. In that world, it would be up for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Durkin, Best Actor for Efron, Best Supporting Actor for McCallany and White, Best Supporting Actress for Tierney, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and more. Will it contend for any? Time will tell, but for me, it’s up there with any other Academy Award player this year.

The Iron Claw is one of the best films of the year, full stop. Is it also one of the saddest? Yes, but every single emotion is earned. I was entertained in the early going, even knowing where the narrative was headed, while I was properly wrecked by some of the heaviest moments. There’s one scene, alluded to above, that’s one of 2023’s most powerful. Then, it ends on a bit of catharsis that had me bawling. This is something special. Trust that the juice will be worth the squeeze and you’ll be rewarded with a masterclass all around. It’s brilliant.

SCORE: ★★★★