All reviews or comments on this film should start with stating what a phenomenal director Sean Durkin is. What he is able to pull out of his actors, the expert lighting and mood, every little detail is top of its class.
I don't know anything about wrestling and this isn't a movie about wrestling, it is a greek tragedy and misery biopic. So many great performances here to call out an individual, but Zac Effron blacks out and turns in an all-time performance here. Absolutely stunning across the board, i can't keep thinking about the entire thing.
Richard Reed Parry absolutely murders the score here too.
I will follow Durkin to the ends of the world after this, Martha Marcy May Marlene, and The Nest.
Harris Dickinson is going to be talked about in best actor circles in the coming years.
"Tonight, I walk with my brothers."
Wow.
I went into this blind, not knowing the true story behind it. So, my experience was a Roller Coaster ride of emotions, from shock to being devastated.
This is the best performance I have ever seen from Zac Efron. What the 2017 film Good Time did for Robert Pattinson, is what The Iron Claw does for Efron, and I hope this is a sign of a new and exciting phrase for him. The High School Musical days and the pretty boy image are behind him now.
A24 did this movie dirty this award season. I know awards should not matter, but it would be nice.
The Iron Claw is a beautifully shot film with an outstanding cast. However, the tragedies portrayed are observed more than they are felt. This story should hit like a strong right hook to the jaw but ends up feeling more like a left-handed head squishy from a large male actor in a thong. The movie is good, but it had the potential to be great.
I'll say this... 80's music has held up a lot better than 80's fashion
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.
This one was surprisingly cringeworthy. The direction felt so inconsistent. There were dozens of creative choices that just completely missed the mark. It confounded me. However, the writing left much to be desired as well. The casting for some of the characters seemed completely wrong, and sometimes the acting was over-the-top, but I enjoyed a few of the performances (especially Lily James). Please do not get me started on that portrayal of Ric Flair. :neutral_face::see_no_evil: And one scene toward the end had us in tears from holding back laughter; it was supposed to be a somber moment, but it was just so absurd. I believe there is a story very much worth telling here, but in my opinion, this film did not do it justice. (Why on earth would they choose to exclude the sixth brother from their representation of the family? Seriously, why even make that movie?) I'll be seeking documentaries that will hopefully offer a fuller, more accurate story!
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.
I won't say the movie is bad, it's directed and performed very well by all involved.
I just can't seem to connect with it, the pacing and story just feel off to me. But again... I'm sure it's a great movie for where it does connect for others.
As someone who doesn’t watch a lot of wrestling this was very interesting and tragic story I’ve never heard of. Fantastic performance by Zac Efron. Man was daddy a dick.
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.
Never ending story of what happens sometimes when parents push too much and enforce their unrealized ambitions on kids.
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 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 .
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).
Don’t look up how Jack Jr. died…Jesus Christ.
This film should've been more graphic, because that was their reality.
Saltburn… the reviews were saying how great the movie was, skip Saltburn and watch this. I’m so glad to become a man in this era because of the lack of support men got along the way. I’ve watched wrestling for over twenty years and never knew the story. I love the part where he was grieving and the wife didn’t care because her son needed attention. Two months ago, I was telling my coworker, who lost a son, what I going through and he was like, I assure you it's nothing. I’m being harassed on the job by two women and I’m flattered but if a man was doing it, it would be considered sexual harassment. But, since I’m a man it's like I’m supposed to be receptive but they don’t understand. If you’re looking for money. Time. And attention, I don’t have it. Then, this morning my sister texted me that Mom, whom I had hardly spoken to in five years, is in pain. She hasn’t gotten out of bed to eat or use the restroom. All of that is to say we’re all going through something, some are worse than others, some are greater than others. I haven’t lost a child but everyone reaches mental distress at some point and it affects us all differently.
What an emotional roller coaster of the portrayal of the story of the Von Erich wrestling family, as the plot all revolves around the meaning of wrestling to the family and how one should never give up and that providing for your family is so important that personal dreams need to be temporarily set aside, but it can permanently damage a family emotionally. The casting and filming is great. The plot was decent, but they could have spent more time on the upbringing of the brothers. However, it was edge of your seat entertainment all the way through with a decent climax.
The movie about the Von Enrich brothers and their experience with the dark side of wrestling is a must-see for all sports entertainment fans. The film highlights the harsh realities of the wrestling industry and the challenges that wrestlers face when striving for success.
Top performance. Top story. Top top top.
This is easily 10/10 movie a must watch
Efron was great here. I expected to rate this higher than the 6.5 it's getting. Tragic story told well by a great writer/director in Sean Durkin. That said, when looking over a lot of the chosen omissions and just how the film itself made me feel or failed to make me feel, I just couldn't get to where I thought I'd be when watching it.
For a great review of more of the story I recommend checking out b&s about movies dot com. I'm unaffiliated, but enjoyed learning what I wasn't aware of there.
Amazing, a very striking movie, very well done. The story is real and here everything is shown in a very organic way, very close, very raw, as if we were there with everyone. This feeling is also reinforced by the stellar acting of the entire cast, it's absurd how true and how close we feel to this story.
Fvck...
I can't imagine losing siblings that way....
Dad's attitude...
Mom didn't do much either...
The meeting of the 4 brothers....
Kevin watching his kids play, and him remembering that....
Fvck, I actually did cry....
I liked the story and based on real events, I hope it was as close to reality as possible...
You get a lot more out of the movie if you know the story going in. This could have easily been 2 movies, there was a lot of stuff that gets skimmed over very quickly or is just completely left out. But great performance from the entire cast and still worth the watch even if you don't know anything about the Von Erich's or wrestling going in.
A fantastic and devastating film.
When the ambition of parents hangs over their children so that through their descendants they can achieve the goals they did not achieve, things generally do not end well. You could say that this is the case of the Von Erich family of fighters, on whom the movie Iron Claw is inspired. The patriarch did not manage to become a world wrestling champion, so he dedicated himself, intelligently, I must say, to instilling in his four children the idea that they should become professional wrestlers to obtain the title that he did not obtain. It ends badly, very badly.
The selection of the cast is accurate: Holt McCallany as the patriarch Fritz Von Erich does an excellent job, showing himself to be tough, impetuous, demanding and very intelligent as it seems that he is not the one who forces everyone to do things, but rather seeks the best for his children. Maura Tierney, as his wife, Doris, is also excellent, playing the wife who either has the same thoughts as her husband, or has already been completely dominated and supports his every decision. The brothers are played by Stanley Simons, Harris Dickinson, Jeremy Allen White and Zac Efron, who is actually the protagonist of the film. All of their performances are good and Zac Efron takes the lead without problems. However, I found Cammy Crochet's hair work very unfortunate and was distracting in every scene.
Sean Durkin served as writer and director on his third feature film and, although after halfway through the film, the script seemed unnecessarily long to me for around fifteen minutes, after this the dynamism and interest resumed. I liked the soundtrack by Richard Reed Parry and the photography by Mátyás Erdély in the prologue of the film that begins with black and white scenes, and a close-up frame of the wonderful young Kevin Von Erich.
Iron Claw received some nominations for its overall cast in the 2023 Awards Season, but ultimately failed to earn any nominations in the 2024 big awards.
One of the best films I've seen recently. Harrowing and intensely beautiful. This movie is not about wrestling. "Tonight I walk with my brothers."
First of all, I have nothing to do with wrestling and don't find it particularly interesting.
Nevertheless, the movie convinced me because it's told more as a family drama with wrestling as the backdrop. At times it seems almost implausible that this movie is based on a true story, more on that in the spoiler.
Among the cast, Zack Efron shines in my opinion and Jeremy Allen overperforms in some parts, which I found inappropriate.
Bottom line, if you know the story and love wrestling, you should watch it for that reason. If you don't like wrestling, you should watch it for the family drama. If you don't like these stories either, you shouldn't watch Iron Claw.
SPOILER:
THERE WAS ANOTHER BROTHER THEY LEFT OUT WHO ALSO DIED ... The father really was the bane of this family, if the movie is to be believed.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
This was a great movie. Even without much interest for wrestling and not knowing the true story before watching. Good writing, directing and acting sucked me in straight away and didn't let me go until the credits were rolling.
"Tonight, I walk with my brothers."
As we finished this, we were all speechless. Two thoughts ran across my mind: 1) How can so much happen to one family and 2) it is a cinematic crime that this was not nominated for Oscars. I hate when people say that because everything is subjective but this needed to be on the list. Zac Efron, I was not aware of your game.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this movie but it was a lot more than this delivered. So many things wrong about it, starting with the fact that the producers tried to make the wrestling itself look real instead of scripted. (Granted, there was the one scene where Bruiser Brody and Gino Hernandez were going over the 'script' with Kevin and David, but apart from that, it seemed like the film really believed - or wanted its viewers to believe - that professional wrestling is all authentic.) Additionally, so many things in the timeline were completely wrong. Kerry Von Erich didn't go out and wreck his motorcycle - and lose his leg - the night he won the NWA title from Ric Flair: it happened YEARS later. Much more interesting to any true fan of the "Von Erich" family is the DVD The Rise and Fall of WCCW which is difficult to find nowadays, since everything has been absorbed by WWE and its "vault". (PS: It would have been great if they could've at least used the authentic opening theme from the old Saturday night WCCW cards.) The entire story, of course, is a tragedy but I suppose the Mike Von Erich story probably disturbed me the worst because I remember being a hardcore fan of WCCW and the Von Erichs when all that happened. I remember seeing Mike try to get a start in the wrestling ring and he just wasn't cut out for it; I also remember him trying to make a comeback and what an embarrassment THAT was. It was heartbreaking to watch because - long before you knew the story behind that whole family - you knew that he was just trying to keep up with his brothers. Another GLARING gaffe - possibly the worst of the film - was how bulked up "Kevin" was in comparison to his brother Kerry. Anyone who followed the Von Erich family knows that Kerry (thank you steroids) made the rest of his brothers look pale and scrawny. Kerry was the one the girls swooned over when he took his ring jacket off. Yet here, it's Kevin who makes his younger brother Kerry look slight and underdeveloped. Lot of huge mistakes throughout that any fan of WCCW would want to look away from. No Marc Lowrance (a staple of the Saturday night WCCW Sportatorium cards) here and very few of the other wrestlers that could have easily been at least a cameo to make this more interesting. And the guy they selected to portray Ric Flair was ridiculous. I was happy to see the little blurb at the close of the film (just before the end credits) regarding Kevin; anyone who can endure such tragedy deserves to at least live a long and happy life...or what's left of it after all this happens. For die-hard WCCW fans, this will be (IMO) a huge letdown; I don't feel it accurately portrays all that really happened and what all the Adkisson/Von Erich family did for the sport. If you can get your hands on a copy of the aforementioned DVD - and you're a fan of what we used to live for on Saturday nights - from 10PM til midnight every Saturday - you owe it to yourself to relive the glory - along with the tragedy - of the Von Erich days. I'll give this film props for that: After watching this, I'm going to break out that DVD and watch it again.
I enjoyed it, but it didn't really feel complete at all. So much missing and glossed over. Maybe it'd be better as a TV show.
Wish MJF was in it more too!
Fritz immediately talking about bringing the NWA World Title back home right after David's death is insane. Absolutely ghoulish performance by Holt, can't hide the excitement in his voice
What an incredible, gut-wrenching movie! Zac Efron was BRILLIANT. I had no clue about the Von Erich family coming into the movie. Someone deliver me a box of Kleenex...wow will you need one after watching this movie.
Having unexpectedly enjoyed the TV show Heels, I was looking forward to another dramatic story in professional wrestling and was not disappointed. The relationship between the brothers is the highlight here, with nuanced writing that reveals complexities and contradictions. The wholesome moments are disarmingly heartwarming, which makes the gut punch moments land so much harder. The performances are excellent across the board. The production and technical filmmaking deliver memorable shots throughout. My only minor complaint is the pacing in the final act, as things moved rather quickly, with the final scene feeling a bit too on-the-nose/cheesy.
The amount of mental and physical pain I just felt, I'm suing you, Sean Durkin.
I absolutely think this is the best sport/wrestling movie to date, and I'll tell you why. I went in expecting a generic sports movie where in the end there's a huge fight, and the main character is, of course, losing till the very last minute. Well, it's none of that. In any shape, way, or form. The fights were done amazingly, the pace was perfect, the soundtrack/score was beautiful, and the cinematography and editing was outstanding. The acting was genuinely jaw-dropping from everyone. An insanely good performance from Zac Efron, best yet. There wasn't any sort of genericness to this. The message was anything but generic. It showed how mental health is just as important as physical health. I loved the mystery behind the mother/father. We are only left with the consequences of their action. The curse isn't a curse. It's ignorance to help. I could talk about this for days upon days. You couldn't even bodyslam a 'negative' out of me. Anyway, I'll say it again, The Iron Claw is THE best sports movie to date.
fucking brutal...and to think i was expecting a biopic lol
Such a good and sad movie. Great acting all around.
This is continuously fighting to not pigeonhole itself into the tropes of Hollywood biopics and sports movies. It often doesn't succeed, but the movie still somehow really works. You can tell Zac Efron's very eager to prove himself as a dramatic actor, and he delivers some of his finest work here. Jeremy Allen White and Holt McCallany are also excellent, a lot of the heavy dramatic weight feels earned because all of the characters and performances are so good. It's a tough watch, but one that's sure to resonate. The movie is at its best when focussing on the personal lives of these characters, with the parental relationship often reminding me of King Richard. This movie pushes that dynamic to a far more challenging and emotional place than that film was willing to go, so that's great. The technical filmmaking is pretty decent. I liked the cinematography choices but due to the lack of a refreshing vision it doesn't breathe new life into the more formulaic aspects of the film. The uninspired score doesn't help either, all of the dramatic cues have those typical sad piano chords and generic strings. Overall, this easily clears a lot of the Best Picture nominees thanks to making a stronger emotional impact, but there's a lot of stuff that could've been better.
6.5/10
There really wasn't much to this story, and I felt that had a lot to do w/ the script and the way this story was filmed. I found the cinematography to be quite odd. There were a number of scenes, where they had long, open shots from a distance, and it felt strange. I also felt that they didn't really delve deep into this family's wrestling background, only scratching the surface of what they were well known for. That would've been OK had they delved deep into the familial dysfunction that led to the tragedy that struck this family's children. Any way you slice it, it was not a great effort from the filmmakers, and this was reflected in the final product.
I remember my mom being a fan of the Von Erichs so I was always vaguely aware of their story, but I didn't realize how deep it went (I had no idea that Kevin was the second oldest or that Kerry lost his foot). Great performances from the cast and the direction is wonderful. You can almost feel the specter of death hanging over them in the film. I do wish they hadn't cut out Chris because I always felt like it was the tipping point for Kerry (because of the similarities of their deaths).
'The Iron Claw' is quite the depressing watch!
A lot of the story you can see coming from a decent ways away, even for someone like me who previously knew nothing about this family, but that only adds to the tinge of sadness that is present in the film from pretty much the get-go. The film does a grand job at making sure that events onscreen move along at a good pace, especially as some parts could've (but don't) felt repetitive if told differently.
There's an excellent showing from Zac Efron in this, such a great performance from that man. I also appreciated Holt McCallany, as well as the likes of Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson. The Von Erich family are portrayed well, though it is a shame that I read that they left out brother Chris - I do get the reasoning as to why, but I feel like they should've found a way to at least acknowledge his existence.
All things considered, though, this 2023 release is tremendous. Highly recommended.
What a great story! I've never really been a wrestling fan but I can remember the boom of interest in the 80s an remembered some of the character names. Zac Efron is brilliant in this role and has completely transformed to portray his character. A really enjoyable film with great acting and direction, impressed.
My oh my. What Sean Durkin and of course the rest of the crew did here with such a low budget is truly incredible. I enjoyed The Iron Claw really much. It was an emotional roller coaster. This biopic had a great plot. I wasn't familiar with the Von Erich family as I am not that much familiar with wrestling at all. But I was shook.
The ending in particular was great. The one scene where Kerry woke up in heaven (or somewhere) and got to meet his 3 brothers again was amazing. AMAZING!
The acting, theme and dialogue were all great. Holt McCallany_s role (_Fritz Von Erich) was exeptionally great if you ask me.
Great cinematography, there were some great shots in this one.
Great directing. Not a single bad point. I dont't have anything to criticise except maybe the pacing. It could've been like 20 min shorter.
My personal rating:
-Plot (Story Arc and Plausibility): 8/10
-Attraction (Premise & Entertainment Value): 8/10
-Theme (Identity & Depth): 8/10
-Acting (Characters & Performance): 7.5/10
-Dialogue (Storytelling & Context): 8.5/10
-Cinematography (Visual Language & Lighting, Setting, and Wardrobe): 8/10
-Editing (Pace & Effects): 7/10
-Soundtrack (Sound Design & Film Score): 7/10
-Directing (Vision & Execution): 8/10
-The “It” Factor (One-of-a-Kind & Transcendent): 7.5/10Overall: 8/10 || 77.5/100
Like making jello in a cupcake mold, they took something unusual and made it look normal.
I'm not a huge fan of wrestling and I'm not a huge fan of the family drama genre but I am a huge fan if A24.
A24 has the gift of taking the ordinary and making it extra-ordinary, but here they decided to go the opposite route. They took the story of a cursed family of professional wrestlers (!) and decided to slowly erode the inherent magic of that situation until the only thing remaining was the tepid residue of a made-for-TV movie.
The best movie about wrestling since the Wrestler and Fighting With My Family. Though it just shows classic matches, family scenes and then more wrestling back and forth throughout.
The performances are solid. With everyone believable as the real life Von Erich family. With the reliable Lily James of course also great as Kevin’s (Zach Effron) girlfriend.
Slight real life spoilers: Wrestling was so in the blood of some of the brothers that they unfortunately took their own lives when they couldn’t wrestle anymore. Or to be with their deceased brothers.
The film leaves out Chris Von Erich who killed himself since the director felt like having Kerry was sad enough.
Though I don’t think one Von Erich shouldn’t have been totally left out. I do some-what get what the director means.
The film does however at least capture how much these brothers love each other and how close they are. As well as capturing some classic wrestling moments.
The Iron Claw moves along smoothly. It just however expects you to know some things that happened on your own. Like Kevin having to team up with a fake Von Erich played by MJF of AEW. When his brothers were injured badly. It didn’t cover too well.
You do get that maybe having a father (Holt McCallany) who was always pushing them to be the best and that wrestling is all they had. That possibly some of the brothers pushed themselves too hard or felt like failures when they couldn’t do it anymore.
The movie can be sad and depressing but also some-what inspiring. Due to the fact of how strong Kevin is and the fact he has lived on. Possibly because he was the only brother to have a wife and kids to help him get through loss.
Rated a Connor 10, normal 8.7
When real life comes off as unbelievable. There is no way one single family could face so much tragedy? Except there is even more that had to be left out as there is only much you can take. Yet the movie holds it together and sells the importance of family. Great performances all around with a subdued highlight performance from Maura Tierney.
Zach Efron shows up with a Kumail misshaped roid head but we are all the better for it.
Shout by Piergiorgio BarlettaBlockedParent2024-02-04T01:31:45Z
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