A sturdily crafted & strongly acted biographical sports drama that brings the retro look & feel of the 1980s professional wrestling arena to life with flair & nostalgia while simultaneously offering a peek at the dark side of the sports entertainment business, The Iron Claw chronicles the story of the Von Erich family and covers their journey to the top of their trade through tragedy & triumph.
Written & directed by Sean Durkin, the story follows the inseparable Von Erich brothers seeking immortality on the biggest stage in sports while also highlighting the toxicity brewing within the family due to their domineering father. Navigating parental influence, sibling rivalry & sacrifices that the sport demands, the film makes for a heartbreaking portrait of family, loss, brotherhood & ambition.
Packed with heavy emotions all the way through, the psychological scars the siblings are forced to confront is far more disturbing to watch than the physical violence they endure inside the ring and the solid performances help sell it convincingly. Zac Efron is excellent in his role, his beefy & muscular exterior hiding a broken heart & fragile inner being that's aching for comfort and Efron articulates it with precision.
Overall, The Iron Claw is an emotionally captivating dramatisation of the Von Erich legacy but it also runs a bit overlong and gets repetitive at times. More than the in-ring acrobatics, it is what unfolds outside the arena that makes for more interesting observations. There is compassion & tenderness in its approach, a mournful & melancholic longing in its portrait but what makes the ride worthwhile is the collective input from the cast.
Written & directed by Sean Durkin, the story follows the inseparable Von Erich brothers seeking immortality on the biggest stage in sports while also highlighting the toxicity brewing within the family due to their domineering father. Navigating parental influence, sibling rivalry & sacrifices that the sport demands, the film makes for a heartbreaking portrait of family, loss, brotherhood & ambition.
Packed with heavy emotions all the way through, the psychological scars the siblings are forced to confront is far more disturbing to watch than the physical violence they endure inside the ring and the solid performances help sell it convincingly. Zac Efron is excellent in his role, his beefy & muscular exterior hiding a broken heart & fragile inner being that's aching for comfort and Efron articulates it with precision.
Overall, The Iron Claw is an emotionally captivating dramatisation of the Von Erich legacy but it also runs a bit overlong and gets repetitive at times. More than the in-ring acrobatics, it is what unfolds outside the arena that makes for more interesting observations. There is compassion & tenderness in its approach, a mournful & melancholic longing in its portrait but what makes the ride worthwhile is the collective input from the cast.