[FILM REVIEW] THE IRON CLAW Review (2023)
Summary: The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s.
Year: 2024
Cinema Release Dates: 18th January 2024 (Australia), TBA (Thailand), 9th February 2024 (UK), 22nd December 2023 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA (Australia), TBA (Thailand), TBA (UK), TBA (USA)
Country: UK, USA
Director: Sean Durkin
Screenwriter: Sean Durkin
Cast: Kevin Anton (Harley Race), Cazzey Louis Cereghino (Bruiser Brody), Harris Dickonson (David Von Erich), Chelsea Edmundson (Tania), Zac Efron (Kevin Von Erich), Aaron Dean Eisenberg (Ric Flair), Leo Franich (Ross Adkisson), Sam Franich (Marshall Adkisson), Maxwell Friedman (Lance), Chad Governale (Gary Hart), Chavo Guerrero Jnr. (The Sheif), Michael Harney (Bill Mercer), Lily James (Pam), Holt McCallany (Fritz Von Eirch), Terry J. Nelson (Jerry), Ryan Nemeth (Gino Hernandez), Romeo Newcomer (Jack Jr.), Valentine Newcomer (Young David), Brady Pierce (Michael Hayes/The Fabulous Freebirds), Stanley Simons (Mike Von Erich), Maura Tierney (Doris Von Erich), Jeremy Allen White (Kerry Von Erich), Grady Wilson (Young Kevin)
Running Time: 132 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), TBC (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR THE IRON CLAW REVIEWS
David and Lee Griffiths’s The Iron Claw Review
David’s rating Out Of 5
Lee’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s The Iron Claw Review
Based on a true story, a loving family is torn apart by a father’s “win at any cost” mentality.
Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) was a rising star of the wrestling circuit, but didn’t get the chance to be a world champion.
Still, it is what continues to drive him and an attitude he imbues into his sons.
Married to Doris (Maura Tierney), his mantra is if you are the toughest, strongest and most successful, nothing can ever hurt you.
He and Doris had five boys, but the eldest, Jack Junior (Romeo Miloro Newcomer), died when he was just five and a half.
Now, the other four – Kevin (Zac Efron), David (Harris Dickinson), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) and Mike (Stanley Simons) – are destined to follow in dad’s footsteps.
Mind you, the end goal is for them to go one better than Fritz, by claiming a world championship belt.
Kevin is top of the heap in Texas and steps into the ring against the reigning world champion in a non-title fight and the sparks fly.
It looks like he is about to get his shot at the really big time soon, but that is not how events pan out.
In fact, it is his younger sibling David that moves ahead of him in the pecking order.
In the meantime, Kevin meets and later marries down to earth Pam (Lily James).
Kevin has already raised with Pam what is known as the family curse, which she immediately dismisses.
Despite that, tragedy is about to befall the clan.
Still, father Fritz presses on with his ambitions.
Written and directed by Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Iron Claw is hard to watch, as something meant to be positive goes so pear shaped.
Dad’s ambition becomes an ever-tightening noose around the family’s neck.
Kevin and his brothers are forever trying to please their father, but as far as dad is concerned nothing but total dedication to the cause is acceptable.
While hardly sympathetic, Holt McCallany impresses with his intense characterisation of a man that refuses to be swayed from his path.
In one of the roles of his career, Zac Efron brings sensitivity and heartache to his persona.
In fact, each of the brothers has vulnerabilities and pitfalls.
Lily James is warm and caring as Kevin’s grounded wife.
Doris is harder to read as Fritz’s God-fearing wife who sticks by her husband despite the torment she experiences. Maura Tierney channels that dichotomy.
The movie’s title is drawn from Fritz’s signature move in the ring, although given what goes down, perhaps The Iron Fist would have been more apt. Tough and unrelenting, The Iron Claw grips and grips hard.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other The Iron Claw Reviews
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