The Iron Claw

Look this hit me somewhere personal with both family (my oldest brother committed suicide) and mental issues (I have depression and have been suicidal in the past), along with professional wrestling having a spot in my heart both emotionally and cerebrally since childhood, so on a me level it gets this five even if on an objective level it might be a half or full star lower. Things are truncated to fit the runtime or because it’d be unbelievably sad (there is a whole fifth brother) and it’s idea of what wrestling really is in universe is a bit muddled, but the cast all nail it- especially Efron- with humanity and love, the tragedy hanging over it all in the classical inevitable sense from knowing the story beforehand lends an extra dread to it all, and it was incredibly cathartic. The third act from Kerry’s suicide on left me bawling.

I loved Live That Way Forever at the party being the moment where they were all just happy before it all gradually went wrong, and it made its reprise all the harder hitting. I loved the kids being there for their father, that kind of thing always hits me, parent and child being a two way street and being better than their forebears. How that love the brothers always had, raw and emotional and true, could be passed onto him and his sons free from Fitz and his toxic ideals of masculinity and results. You can break the cycle and there can be a little light in a darkness unfair and that should never have been.

The imagine spot of Kevin with the brothers could’ve been hokey or too sentimental, but they earned it, they stuck the landing by keeping it in key with who Kevin was the whole movie. It’s a desperate, teary hope of his, and that’s what made it work. Maybe the whole movie could be considered that. That beating heart, working to be sensitive to the tragedy and not sensationalist with what they show and what they don’t. This is epitomized by Kerry, showing not his head wound but the blood dripping and coloring the leaves red. The serene landscape of the home they loved for the fact it had each other there colored once again by tragedy. After the credits rolled I just stuck around with the friends I saw it with and confided with them and them in me of similar tragedies and struggles in our life, and that’s powerful to me. That’s something I’ll always hold close and that I’ll think of with this movie, and it’s why I can’t give it anything but a five.

As a huge wrestling fan, I went into The Iron Claw already familiar with the tragic story of the Von Erich family — and I was mainly watching it for the wrestling connection. But wow… this film is something else.

It’s not just a wrestling biopic — it’s an emotionally devastating, beautifully told story about family, pressure, loss, and legacy. The performances are top-notch across the board, but Zac Efron absolutely steals the show. If this had gotten a bigger push, I genuinely believe we’d be talking Oscars.

You don’t have to be a wrestling fan to feel the weight of this film. It’s powerful, heartbreaking, and masterfully acted. One of the most affecting films I’ve seen in a long time.

Top performance. Top story. Top top top.
This is easily 10/10 movie a must watch

The dark side of King Richard.
Very deep and shows how the only way to life a good life is to eradicate any toxic masculinity from your environment

I loved this film, as a true fan of wrestling and someone who was already familiar with the Von Erich's legacy, this film was portrayed perfectly for me. Each member of the cast did their parts perfectly giving an emotional performance that will stick with you for hours after leaving the theater.

The only thing stopping this film from being a 10 was the decision to leave Chris Von Erich out of the film entirely. The way that I see it is that if this was a perfect representation of the legacy of the Von Erich's, than it should include EVERY sibling.

This is the biggest surprise of the year for me, and honestly, it may still climb my rankings as time continues to pass. I had not heard anyone talking about it, but it’s such a fantastic movie deserving to be in the conversation. It’s a stunning exploration of toxic masculinity, and even though it's a wrestling movie, it's not really about wrestling. It's about brotherhood, filial responsibility, and the drive for a father's validation. Zac Efron is amazing. I really did not expect this level of range from him. And even though I don't think it's a focal point, I was impressed with some of the cinematography at times. From the opening shot, to the way the sound of the crowd roared all around you (in theaters at least), to the way the camera would focus on one specific point as the impact seeped into you. It has the best ending scene of the year, and Zac Efron deserves trophies for this movie, sorry to all the other Best Actor contenders.

I'm a huge wrestling fan, have been since the 80s, so I know my wrestling family history. I went to see this on a double date, my friend knowing the same as me but our partners had no idea the gravity of sorrow coming their way. It's beautifully shot, brilliantly acted and I would've probably given it a full 10 if not for the Flair actor, wasn't the best version of him I've seen. Superb movie but if you don't know the story, take some tissues.

Growing up in Texas, in the 80s, it was hard NOT to know who the Von Erichs were. They wrestling royalty; to see them in public meant bragging rights among your friends. We would fill up on Pizza Hut Pizza, just so we could get the posters. A Von Erich picture on the cover of a wrestling magazine meant that it would be sold out.

And for me - it was a special bond I had with my Grandfather; he had seen Fritz wrestle back in the day, in Canada. (Mom made my grandfather promise NOT to tell me stories about how "bad Fritz was". Especially given how the Father was the Heel, while the boys were Golden). When my grandfather would come to visit every X-mas, we would have a stack of wrestling tapes ready for him to watch. (I would record the episodes on the weekends, then edit out the ads, so it was 45-60 minutes of pure wrestling). As Mom said "It keeps him entertained, he gets his wrestling fix, and he isnt getting in my hair, or upset your father by fixing things around the house".

So, when the opportunity to be part of test audience for the film came up during the summer, I volunteered and was chosen.
It took a few minutes to accept Efron as Kevin (who was my favorite and an idol of mine), and I just didnt see Allen White at Kerry, but man, did they score BIG with Dickinson as David Von Erich. (Later, when we actually saw Kerry on the screen, and how he had many of the same body language and mannerisms as Kerry, all doubt was cast aside). Even knowing what was in store for the family, it still had the gut punch when [spoiler] David dies, Michael commits suicide, and Kerry looses his foot and would commit suicide. I was told Kerry only lost part of his foot- not the whole foot and part of the leg [/Spoiler].

There were a few things that I felt were wrong with the film - the main one being the exclusion of Chris Von Erich from the story line. But, leaving the theater, I felt I had seen next year Oscar buzz worthy film - definite nominations for Efron, for the screenplay, and the directing, and as well as the film overall. (In some ways, I want it to win - so that the Von Erich "curse" is broken).

"I used to be a brother."

I knew the story going in thanks to "Darkside of the Ring" but that doesn't make this any easier to watch. It is a sad movie. A very sad movie about a cursed family. The tragedy that they had to endure is out of this world and they even left out Chris von Erich. I do agree, it would've been too much.

The cast is amazing. Zac Efron steals the show, happy to see Jeremy Allen White on the big screen, Holt McCallany was very intimidating, Lily James had amazing chemistry with Efron and everyone else was on top of their game too. The Iron Claw really gave me the feel of the old school wrestling. The screen graphics, the lightning, the action. All very solid. And I do think it is amazing that Sean Durkin still gave us some happy family moments that felt happy during all the shit that happens. In the end we get an great film with an amazing performance by Zac Efron.

Hopefully after people have seen the Iron Claw, they will seek out Darren Aronofsky's the Wrestler. The last film about professional wrestling before The Iron Claw. That one is also worth a watch!