“The Iron Claw” is a biopic that tells the tragic story of the Texas-based wrestling family, the Von Erichs, and, more accurately, the curse that followed between the early ‘80s and ‘90s.

The professional wrestling world has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. So when I heard that Academy-Award-winning film company A24 announced it would be producing a biopic on the Von Erich’s, I was excited beyond words to say the least. At first glance, pictures of Zac Efron sporting a ridiculous bowl cut and muscular build may have given the impression of a rather silly story. But upon the release ,  the tale of the Von Erichs would be anything but that.

The story follows the eldest of the four Von Erich brothers, Kevin Von Erich (Efron) as the family rises to fame in professional wrestling. The brothers- led by their aggressively  masculine father, Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) – are forced to reach unattainable levels of perfection and toughness to succeed. Fritz’s desire for success in his family is as a result of his failure to become world champion in his career.  This is not only to solidify the family name as the greatest in professional wrestling, but to also put a nail in the coffin to the rumors of the family name being ‘cursed’. These rumors circulate across the Dallas wrestling scene following Fritz’s first born son, Jack Jr, drowning at age 7.

“The Iron Claw” diverges from being a standard biopic to becoming a must-watch movie for two main reasons: career-defining acting, and emotional narratives.

Efron has an unbelievable physical transformation but his emotional vulnerabilities stole the show. Wife Pam Adkisson (Lily James) provides small doses of hope and joy throughout. Efron has previously expressed his desire to be taken more seriously as a dramatic actor, and his portrayal of Kevin Von Erich,  without question, provided him with a passionate and nuanced performance.

McCallany’s performance is nothing short of incredible, expertly capturing the macho-man father, born in a generation where proving yourself was to being tougher than the other guy . He crafted a competitive dynamic amongst the brothers in order to live his dreams through his sons, each son hoping not to be ranked last. Kerry Von Erich(Jeremy Allen White), is the family’s  natural athlete providing a somber look into how a combo of injuries and emotional abuse can  have a detrimental effect on the wellbeing of people.

The film acutely captures the feeling of loss. The story is told through the perspective of Kevin Von Erich. the audience not only sees the loss but feels it too. The movie leans into the  tragic storytelling by showing their fathers cruelty, but the love the brothers still feel towards him- common among victims of abuse. Like many boys, they wanted to make their dad proud. The brothers’ chemistry in every scene elevated the performance of each actor and the actors as a group, through the actors feeding off the emotions of one another. The viewer genuinely wants  everyone to succeed and feel more immersed in the story.

However, Chris Von Erich, one of the brothers, being absent from the film seems nonsensical for a story based on group suffering. However, in terms of cinema and writing, the absence is understandable because his inclusion would have been one tragedy too many as expressed by director Sean Durkin. But overall  it’s a story of pain. Entirely removing one person entirely who also experienced that pain leaves a bitter feeling inside those who knew the story before watching.

“The Iron Claw” is an emotional rollercoaster to say the least, a story that sticks to newcomers to the Von Erichs story  and provides a heart-wrenching view for both wrestling fans and general audiences alike. It is a human-driven story that the industry needs, that appreciates the audience’s intelligence and empathy, and tells a tale of generational trauma, toxic masculinity and recovery from adversity. “The Iron Claw”  showcases a beautiful family dynamic and ensures that, despite all the challenges the Von Erichs faced, the family will be immortalized.

“The Iron Claw” is available to watch in theaters now and will be available in digital late February – available for streaming on Max in early spring 2024.