The Iron Claw

The Iron Claw engages and thrills us with exciting wrestling sequences, yet we never really feel happy when the Erich brothers win, due to the enormous pressure they are under from both the sport and their father.

A Bulked-Up Family Drama

It’s extremely hard to believe that this is the same actor who played Troy Bolton. Zac Efron is close to unrecognisable as Kevin Von Erich in Sean Durkin’s new sports drama, The Iron Claw. Deserving of an Oscar nomination (or several), yet having received none, The Iron Claw brings with it the familiar grit, love, and family of Warrior, a heartfelt story of great success, and tremendous loss.

The film is inspired by the true story of the Von Erich brothers, who became famous in the 1980s for their successes in competitive wrestling, led by their coach AKA father, Fritz Von Erich, played brilliantly by Holt McCallany. Efron plays Kevin, the now eldest brother of the Von Erich’s since firstborn Jack died when he was young, starting the famous rumour of the Von Erich curse that haunted the family.

What is so great to witness is Efron in a serious, gritty role that breaks his typical typecast of the romantic lead in a comedy or musical. He makes his bold return to the weighty drama since playing infamous serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil, and Vile, in 2019, and his performance is incredible. Not only has the actor gone through such a physical change, but also an emotional one, proving that his depth goes far beyond that of the “funny pretty boy”.

Efron is supported with amazing performances by Jeremy Allen White, who plays Kerry Von Erich, and Harris Dickinson, who plays David Von Erich. The performances capture the closeness of the Von Erich brothers, captivating not only their youthful spirit but also their love for one another as a team. The comradery makes the film a pleasure to watch; the dramatic and gruesome fight sequences keep your attention hooked, blended perfectly with the family drama that delves so deeply into these characters telling the tragic and unbelievable story of this amazing family.

The Iron Claw engages and thrills us with exciting wrestling sequences, yet we never really feel happy when the Erich brothers win, due to the enormous pressure they are under from both the sport and their father. What Durkin does so well is to introduce us and allow us to love these boys as we see them for who they are when they are together: young and inseparable, bonded both in and out of the ring. The Iron Claw is ultimately about family: the beautiful connection siblings carry forever, complexly tied into the demands of a brutal and tragic sport. A legacy now cemented in cinema, the Von Erich brothers left a remarkable history, solidified in Efron’s graceful performance.

Showing at Cinema City now