The Iron Claw | Film Review

As the Von Erich brothers attempt to make history in the world of professional wrestling, their lives are marred by a perceived family curse.

This is the other film that I should have watched a lot sooner than I did, but it felt like the kind of film you have to be in the mood for and I never felt like I was. But thankfully I’ve now seen it!

I really liked this film.

From the start, the characters are so interesting. Even without knowing that this is a true story, they feel so authentic and are extremely well written.

The story is so engaging. From the first minute, you’re locked in and it doesn’t let you go until the credits roll.

Not only are the characters and story genuinely interesting, but the way the story is told is extremely compelling.

The relationship between the brothers is what holds the film together, and the actors do an excellent job of creating and maintaining this chemistry.

But speaking of the characters, the father (played by Holt McCallany) is such a complex character and written so well. In a lot of stories like this there is a clear ‘villian’, and while the father does seem to play this role, it’s clear that he is a 3-dimensional real person who isn’t black-and-white. 

Another important element of the film is the wrestling matches, and for the most part these feel real. They’re filmed in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been transported back in time and are actually watching this happen.

The spiral of trauma was so unexpected to me, having gone into the film somewhat blind. I had no idea where things were going so every incident felt like another punch in the gut – not only because of how much we grow to care about these characters, but also the lead-up to each incident and how this ends up playing out.

It’s an emotional roller-coaster from one scene to the next, and only when it’s finished do you realise how intense it is, and how invested you were.

Overall this is a really powerful, heart-breaking story that I’d definitely recommend.

8/10