The Iron Claw

Image credit: gatewayfilmcenter.org

It’s a really lovely experience to have an old fire of your character rekindled. Back when I was working at a Blockbuster (pause for marvel/lament at how long ago that was) I was all about movies. And as I grew up my love for cinema never really puttered out, but it certainly dimmed and for a while my absorption of new movies and writing my reviews waned. But my love for cinema and my ambition to go to the movies more has been rekindled with this new job, one of the perks of which is the occasional free ticket.

The delightful thing about a free ticket is that, even if it’s a film you don’t know much about or didn’t think you were that interested in seeing, it inspires you to go along because what have you got to lose? And then there is always the chance that you come out of the cinema in complete awe at the film you just watched. I had this experience over the weekend when I decided to make use of a free ticket and took myself to see The Iron Claw.

Based on a true story, the film follows the wrestling careers of the Von Erich family, a close-knit band of brothers who made history in the competitive world of wrestling in the 1980s. A love of each other and being in the ring together is what drives these four boys, but there is a dark side to their success. Pushed by their father who is driven by a fierce ambition, one by one the boys start to fall victim to the belief that their family is cursed and that their strong bond of brotherhood might not be enough to save them.

This is a fiercely provocative movie that tells a tragic story while simultaneously exploring the physical and mental strains and benefits of love, pack mentality, and the nuclear family. Against the super-charged toxic masculinity that is allowed to run rampant from scene to scene there is a beautiful depiction of male fragility and the need for camaraderie and brotherhood. Add the questionable relationships of the parents to their sons and this is a recipe for a compelling and heart-wrenching story.

The performances of the central cast are all incredible, each brother being endearing, flawed, and spiking our empathetic reflexes. Expertly devised shots give audiences enough time to anticipate what’s about to happen and thus be able to properly experience the shock and grief to come. Despite its sweaty, bulging, and gritty aesthetic, the various camera techniques as well as the general cinematography makes The Iron Claw quite possibly one the of most beautiful and strangely elegant films I’ve seen in a while. It has been a long time since I teared up in a cinema, but that drought has been broken thanks to this film.

Image credit: tvinsider.com

And then we can marvel at the fact that because this film is beautiful, compelling, and tastefully done, it inspires audiences to take a deep drive into a story that they may never had heard of. I am not a wrestling fan in the least, so I had no idea who these people were, but I am truly fascinated and compelled by their story.

If you are looking for a compelling, moving, and beautifully crafted film, I would recommend The Iron Claw.

Director: Sean Durkin, 2023

Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Hold McCallany, Scott Innes, Michael Harney, Stanley Simons, Ryan Nemeth, Cazzey Louis Cereghino, Lily James & Kevin Anton