The Iron Claw

Wrestling is a laugh, isn’t it? Characters, each more ridiculous than the last, play-fighting in the name of mass entertainment. Yet its success is evident, and the reasons for it are captured beautifully in Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw, a breathlessly entertaining and exhaustingly harrowing tale concerning the von Erich tribe, a family who made a big splash in the wrestling world in the early 80s.

These iconic brothers, captained by Kevin (Zac Efron, more ripped than ever) and led by their ruthless father, Fritz (Holt McCallany), a haunting and adeptly brought-to-life slab of toxic masculinity, light up the wrestling world with their familial charisma, delivered in pure, unmistakable 80s format. The colouring and presentation of this film vividly celebrate the era in which it is set.

This film takes a unique and fascinating trajectory. Happiness and success build innocently enough, with the feature acknowledging wrestling’s somewhat pre-arranged nature though also the strength and dedication necessitated to climb into the upper echelons of the sport. More von Erich brothers join in, carving a path for themselves and as a team. The wrestling scenes are manic and wonderful. Imaginative close-quarters shots compound the action and make for a fine advert for the sport. But before long, loss starts to set in, one tragedy at a time, making for a long, slow decline of fortune. If the true tale of the von Erichs upon which this picture is based isn’t yet familiar, keep it a surprise for the viewing of this film. The Iron Claw paces it well and handles sensitivity deftly.

There is admittedly a lot to pack in in the von Erich tale, but this picture does drag just a touch in the final third, what feels like it should be the home stretch, where some interactions seem to have a slight redundancy. Nevertheless, there is a place for The Iron Claw in the Iconic Sports Films category, though maybe fans of the genre should go in with a tragedy warning.

Will Snell

The Iron Claw is released nationwide on 9^th February 2024.

Watch the trailer for The Iron Claw here: