If you don’t follow the wrestling universe, you don’t understand or know or imagine the tragic and harrowing life of the Von Erichs, a family that gained prominence inside and outside the ring, not just for having several champions, but for the tragedy as well. Still, watching Iron Claw is extremely distressing precisely because it is a true story.
Set in the 1980s, the film tells the story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who, under the influence, command, and inspiration of their father, made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling. However, always waiting around the corner is the pain of loss, which seems to be part of a “curse” by the Von Erichs.
Directed by Sean Durkin, Iron Claw brings together the most sought-after young actors of the moment: Zac Efron (strangely unrecognizable), Harris Dickinson, and Jeremy Allen White among them, which brings even greater expectations about the result. What we see told on screen is partly what we get: a feeling of emptiness, of something missing to explain exactly what is happening to the boys who try their best, but are unable to escape their tragic fate.
Documentaries available online tell the sad saga of the Von Erichs better and in more detail than the film, which wastes the talent gathered. The one who leads the story is (SPOILER ALERT) the only survivor, Kevin (Efron), the eldest of four children raised in a paradoxically toxic and loving environment, whose obsession with overcoming and winning is demanded by his father, the former fighter Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) and accepted by his devoutly religious mother, Doris (Maura Tierney).
In a universe where everything seems false, one by one succumbs to what seems random but is not. It is unnerving to watch the tragedy in progress, but at the same time, it seems that the director deliberately decided to be superficial so as not to invade the suffering of those who are biographed. This leaves us more confused than excited.
As Fritz would have it, the Von Erich brothers were stars on the Texas wrestling circuit in the early 1980s, only the price was too high. Even the youngest, Michael (Stanley Simons), initially an aspiring musician, is a victim of what they call a “curse” and is, in large part, understandable depression. And the film even omits another Von Erich, Chris, to “alleviate” the tragedy.
It’s a shame that the script rushes too much at times and changes dates at others because each of the brothers is individually interesting, but we don’t decipher them. What remains, and is important, is how the love between the brothers prevails despite the toxicity of Fritz’s competitiveness, who loves to pit one against the other.
The luck of Iron Claw really lies in the actors, who deliver despite the difficulty of the narrative. The answers are not given as we expect, but even out of curiosity, it’s worth checking out. It’s an uphill battle, but pain and resilience pay off in the end. The film is on the MAX platform.
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