A24’s newest theatrical release, “The Iron Claw” (written and directed by Sean Durkin) is based upon the true story of the ‘cursed’ Von Erich family. The five Von Erich brothers were some of the biggest names in wrestling during the ‘80s which eventually led to the tragic deaths of all but one of them. 

While the sport of wrestling is a central aspect of the movie, it focuses more on familial bonds and the impact that parents have on their children.

The last hour of the movie is fairly dense, seeing the brother’s lives descend into chaos as their careers rise due to their father’s brutal efforts. However, the film uses several different methods to keep the audience engaged despite this heavy content. 

The film boasts an impressive cast, capitalizing on Jeremy Allen White’s (“The Bear”, “Shameless”) current popularity and featuring a surprisingly robust performance by Zac Efron who has drastically bulked up as compared to his well-known role as Troy Bolton in ”High School Musical”. 

Each actor genuinely seems to disappear into their role, gaining the necessary physical and emotional strength needed to portray the complex wrestlers as they don Texas accents to deliver these wistful performances. 

The central protagonist of the movie is Kevin Von Erich (portrayed by Efron), the oldest brother and only surviving member of the family. He’s a deeply stunted character, impacted greatly by the pressure placed on his shoulders by his father but ultimately saved through his budding relationship with Pam (Lily James), a reliable bright spot within the film’s darker moments. 

Holt McCallaney portrays the Von Erich patriarch as the film’s main source of conflict. McCallaney plays the formerly prolific wrestler, Fritz Von Erich with a frightening callousness. 

Each brother’s relationship with their father is uniquely strained as he pits them against each other and blatantly plays favorites. He pressures his sons to pursue his own personal goal of winning the title of World Heavyweight Championship despite the emotional trauma, illnesses, and injuries that this brings to his children. 

Set in the ‘80s, the film makes use of the nostalgia attached to the decade, using well-known songs to amplify the action sequences within. The film opens with Blue Oysters Cult’s iconic song, “Don’t Fear the Reaper”, transporting the viewer into the raucous crowd outside of the ring as well as warning the audience of the tragedy to follow as the story moves forward. 

One of the best moments of the film has the three oldest brothers hopping into the ring together backed by the electrifying Rush song, “Tom Sawyer”. The moment signifies the bond formed between the brothers through wrestling as well as incorporating their younger brothers’ unsupported interest in music. 

Taking place in a decade famous for its fashion, “The Iron Claw” does not disappoint in this department. The costumes perfectly capture the era and the cheesy levels of showmanship that come along with the sport. Each of the Von Erich’s have their own style within the ring, with White’s character wearing his signature leather boots and Efron styled in several brightly colored speedos throughout his many bouts in the film. 

A particularly engaging moment in the movie has one of the main ‘villains’ of the movie, Ric Flair (Aaron Dean Eisenberg), strutting into the ring in a pink, floor-length robe while wearing the comically large World Heavyweight Championship belt. 

The film shifts from scene to scene with relative quickness, keeping the audience engaged throughout most of the film. However, with a two hour and twelve minute runtime the movie may begin to feel a little redundant to the audience as the Von Erich’s repeat toxic patterns brother by brother. 

There’s also the slight controversy revolving around the exclusion of the youngest Von Erich brother, Chris. Director Sean Durkin addressed this by saying, “There was a repetition to it, and it was one more tragedy that the film couldn’t really withstand.” 

While this is a valid point to be made given how the film already begins to feel repetitive with the tragedy of the four included brothers, it still may seem in poor taste to some that a brother was essentially erased from the family’s story. 

“The Iron Claw” is now in theaters, tissues not included, but recommended.