The Iron Claw, directed by Sean Durkin, is a true story, and opens up the story to opinions from audience member who are familiar with the film’s material and those who are not. It follows the Von Erich brothers, Kevin, David, Kerry, and Michael and their family legacy as famous professional wrestlers in the 1980s.
Having no prior knowledge of the Von Erich’s story and seeing the film with someone with immense knowledge, The Iron Claw is able to tell a heart-breaking and realistic story of brothers and young men struggling with living up to their father’s expectations of becoming the greatest wrestling family of their time. It greatly utilizes its storytelling and character development to punch audience’s in the gut whether they are Von Erich experts or totally in the dark about this tragic story.
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Ever since the death of their oldest brother Jack at a young age, The Von Erich’s have been dealing with a “family curse” that seems to plague each generation. Now being the oldest brother, Kevin (Zac Efron) and his brother David (Harris Dickinson) get involved with the wrestling industry together.
While their other brother Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) begins to train for the 1980 Summer Olympics and Michael (Stanley Simons) is enjoying his days playing small gigs with his band. However, when the 1980 Moscow Olympics is boycotted by the United States, Kerry returns home to “fulfill his duty” as a Von Erich wrestler with Kevin and David, and Michael years later.
Anyone who is familiar with the Von Erich’s tragic story knows the gravity of the film’s subject matter. Sean Durkin’s direction and writing is a deadly combo that greatly touches on this unspoken obligation for the men in the family to take their place as wrestlers. Unfortunately, the Von Erich’s story feels very Shakespearean, their feeling of obligation to this world being their greatest tragic flaw. Durkin places a huge emphasis on brotherhood and family, with the theme of family being the most important thing. But, in Fritz’s mind it means doing anything for the family, but more in a business sense than a brotherly sense.
The film turns this idea on its head, as Kevin begins to realize his sense of self is also essential to his well being. Always getting in the ring to honor the next brother and the family’s legacy becomes dangerous as these boys have always been told to stand up and never falls down, which never gives them the ability to take a needed step back in the face of tragedy to break this very real cycle of “doing what a man should.”
What appears to be a story that will center on wrestling quickly becomes evident that this is a cautionary tale of neglectful parenting and its affect on young boys as they grow and have to face the hard realities of life. The brothers’ bond is so strong and their love for one another is unmatched. However, as much as they open up to one another as men a lack of tools to be able to solve their emotional and mental struggles is heart-breaking because of their father’s failures. How must Kevin be able to care for his younger brothers when he is missing the key elementals of leadership in his own life?
Competitive sports make it difficult to rationalize that it is not the center of one’s universe when it typically can feel like that. Sean Durkin’s screenwriting and directing places the audience in this dangerous reality that the boys live in, making us feel as the boys do, and that this is the “be all and end all” of what their lives will amount to. The greatest distinction of true reality versus the one the boys have been forced to live in for too long is what perpetuates such a “curse” that will be the downfall of them all.
The Iron Claw is beautifully crafted to tear us apart not only because of its story but because this is a tale that cycles throughout history. The way to stop the cycle should not be at the expense of young boys because at that point we have already lost too much. The Iron Claw is one of the Best of 2023 and one that will likely linger in our minds and hearts no matter how devastating.
Follow Steph (the Author) on IG – @cinemasteph_7
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