The Iron Claw: Movie Review

Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Lily James, Maura Tierney, Harris Dickinson, Holt McCallany
Director: Sean Durkin

An oddly emotionally muted movie despite its descent into tragedy, Sean Durkin's passion project about US wrestling family the Von Erichs feels less like the sum of its parts as it plays out.

A story about the rise and downfall of the Von Erich wrestling dynasty from the US in the 70s and the 80s, Martha Marcy May Marlene's director has his eye on the prize with The Iron Claw, but much of what befalls the family begins to feel like a dour, almost aloof distressing story that isn't quite matched by any signs of emotional toll onscreen.

What's interesting about this tale of the Iron Claw is just how many meanings it can have for the Von Erich clan.

The Iron claw is the patriarch's signature wrestling move, but it can also be applied to the hand of fate pressing down upon the family as well as the depression that forces Efron's Kevin into an almost catatonic state during the film. 

While Efron's outfitting leaves him looking like Lou Ferrigno on a bad day (complete with haircut), much will be made of his muscular stature and less on the mental state of his spiralling character. As Kevin begins to be beaten down by events in the wrestling ring, as well as the cruelty of his father's way of parenting, Efron does much behind the eyes to convey the distress and the doubt with equal aplomb.

From his father revealing to all the siblings they can all rank differently in his favourite stakes from their efforts to Kevin's frustration that no one will look after his brothers, Efron gets across both the stark pressure of fraternal responsibility and the desire to break free from a perceived curse.

Equally, The Bear's Jeremy Allen White provides solid support as the athlete forced to divert when the Olympics are canned; and Dickinson brings a quiet desperation to the sensitive Mike who's more interested in music than jackhammering his opposition.

Less successful in The Iron Claw though is some of the characterisation. From a woefully underused Lily James who goes from Texas rose love interest to putupon mum with depressing speed to the sidelined Tierney who delivers utter devastation in her role as the God-fearing mother who constantly has to grieve, The Iron Claw's script is less interested in tag teaming them in in favour of the male contingent of the story.

But perhaps that's the intention here - the unravelling of the Von Erich dynasty comes at the hands of the males. From the patriarch whose singular obsession to be the best has carried onto his progeny whether they want it or not to the brothers' bond, The Iron Claw is an examination in male bonding. 

It's a little heavy handed in the signposting as tragedy begins to bite (one scene sees someone warned to be careful just moments before something goes disastrously wrong) but Durkin's assured hand on proceedings makes the wrestling come to life (even with its fakeout trickery) and the era is evocatively captured.

Maybe the muted edges work better for The Iron Claw on reflection, but during its post 2 hour 10 runtime, it starts to feel like a dirge that's lacking an emotional heft while watching - certainly, given the speed in which some moments are summarily dismissed, it feels almost trite in its handling of tragedy. Its dramatic grip may not be as strong as its lead characters' signature move, but its tale of sadness and coping does give an emotional wrench when it needs to.