I recently watched the film “The Iron Claw” and really enjoyed it. Today, I will be reviewing and breaking down the movie.
** This review contains spoilers about the movie The Iron Claw. If you have not yet seen the movie, please watch the movie prior to reading this review. **
The Story of the Von Erich Brothers
The Iron Claw narrates the journey of the Von Erich brothers, renowned figures in wrestling history who are considered one of the greatest families in wrestling history.
Fritz Von Erich and “The Iron Claw”
The story begins with Fritz Von Erich (Holt McCallany) who always strove to obtain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt. He coined the iconic wrestling move called “The Iron Claw” where he gripped other wrestlers with a strong grip that caused “so much pain” that they could easily be defeated when he used it.
He never reached his goal and said that the NWA always ripped away his chances at the last moment.
The Von Erich Family Legacy
Parental Influence and Pressure
Fritz Von Erich raised his children to become a family of wrestlers and pushed them to be the best.
He raised them with the mindset “If we were the toughest, the strongest, nothing could ever hurt us.”
Fritz molds his sons into wrestlers, instilling in them values of toughness and strength, which are the qualities needed to become a wrestling world champion, but it comes at a cost.
As the film progresses through his children’s careers, we begin to see the pressure they are put under by their family environment, the incredible effort, discipline, and sacrifices it takes to become the top of their field: to achieve the World’s Heavyweight Championship Belt.
Kevin Von Erich’s Journey
Early in the film, Kevin Von Erich (Zach Efron) meets a woman Pam (Lily James) who approaches him after a wrestling match and asks him for his autograph.
She talks to him about how he should ask more questions and propositions him for a date.
While on their date, she asks him if he’s ever thought about what he wants out of his life. He replies that he wants to be the Heavyweight World Champion.
She asks if he wants more.
Kevin seems puzzled by the question and Pam shares what she wants for her life which includes children and to be a veterinarian.
Immediately, Kevin says that they can all live on a ranch with all of his brothers, his family, and be one big happy family together.
This appears to be the first time that Kevin had ever thought about a dream other than wrestling and sets a strong undertone for the rest of the film
Pam mentions that he has “older brother syndrome” suggesting that he takes it on himself to take care of all of his brothers and make sure that they are always okay.
Kevin replies that he is not the oldest brother and that he used to have an older brother that died in an accident when he was young and says that he must have “second older brother syndrome”.
Pam consoles him and shares a loving hug in reaction and afterward, Kevin shares that their family has the “Von Erich Curse” where his brother died because of the curse and that he is afraid that it plagues all of his brothers.
The Von Erich Curse
In real life, the “Von Erich Curse” referenced that curse that was created after the film’s events took place, but this was a useful tool to include it in the movie and emphasize how it affected Kevin throughout his life.
As the film continues we see the tragic events that plagued his family that started with his older brother dying at the age of 7 years old.
The Von Erich Brothers
David Von Erich
In the family’s efforts to bring the Heavyweight Championship Belt home to the Von Erich household, Kevin’s younger brother David is given the opportunity to compete for the Heavyweight Belt against the current champion Ric Flair.
While in Japan, David dies from a ruptured intestine (and potential drug use). This continues the Von Erich curse and Kevin struggles to understand how he can move forward with wrestling.
In the scene before David’s funeral, Kevin’s father tells the boys that it is not okay to cry at the funeral and that he wants them to be “tough” and to not show weakness.
This is a major theme of the film and addresses the societal standard that men should not cry or succumb to their emotions.
Mike Von Erich
Next, his brother Mike Von Erich was wrestling in a match and suffered a shoulder injury and while in the hospital developed a 107 degree fever and went into a coma. He was diagnosed with toxic shock syndrome, suffered brain damage, and stated that he felt severe pressure to succeed on the same level as his other brothers.
This led to him overdosing and dying after leaving a suicide note for his family.
Kerry Von Erich
Even with all of this family trauma and loss, Kevin and Kerry Von Erich continued to fight for the wrestling heavyweight championship and Kerry was chosen to contend for the belt against Ric Flair and succeeded.
Two years later, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that nearly ended his life where he suffered serious leg injuries. The doctors could not save his right leg and were forced to amputate it.
While not in the film, Kerry kept his amputation a secret and continued to wrestle with a prosthetic, but became addicted to pain pills followed by several drug problems.
Kerry ended his life with a single gunshot to the heart with a .44 caliber pistol on his father’s ranch in Denton County, Texas.
Chris Von Erich
Kevin Von Erich’s other brother Chris (who was left out of the film) also suffered from depression and drug use and committed suicide in 1987.
The director left Chris Von Erich’s story out of the film stating that “The reality is so much worse than what is in the movie.”
Themes Explored In The Iron Claw
Patriarchal Pressures, Toxic Masculinity, Mental Health and Coping Mechanisms
The Iron Claw focuses on many deep issues like the patriarchal father figure of Fritz Von Erich pushing his children to be “tough and strong” at the expense of handling the losses of their brothers.
The film delves into the damaging effects of patriarchal expectations, especially concerning emotional expression and coping mechanisms.
The Von Erich curse is a primary focus of the film addressing the seriousness of depression, the pressure to succeed, and the importance of coping with trauma and loss.
Kevin Von Erich’s Choice To Change
By the end of the film, Kevin Von Erich gets an offer to sell the family business (against the request of his father) and decides that the life he has outside of wrestling is worth more than his desire to succeed and satisfy his father’s desires.
The Iron Claw is a tragic story about the Von Erich family and the struggles and pressures they experienced.
It is a strong display of the importance (and lack of) family communication and how toxic this behavior can be.
Women’s Role, Empathy, and the Power of Family
Kevin is saved by the love Pam shows him in the film and the way she pushes him to decide what he wants in life and what he values most.
Pam’s role as a source of empathy and support highlights the significance of women in challenging traditional masculinity and nurturing emotional well-being.
Breaking the Cycle
The final scene of the film is quite powerful where Kevin is sitting watching his children playing in their yard and begins crying.
When his boys realize he is upset and suffering, he apologizes and tell them, “I’m sorry boys. You shouldn’t see me like this. A man doesn’t cry.”
They console him saying, “It’s okay, you can cry. Everyone cries.”
He says he is sad because he “used to be a brother and now he’s not a brother anymore.”
His kids tell him they will be his brothers and the film fades out with him crying, thanking them, and then standing up to play catch with them in a happy conclusion to the film as his dog and pregnant wife Pam come into the scene.
Conclusion
While this movie is primarily focused on the tragedy and destruction of the Von Erich family as a result of toxic masculinity, failure to address mental health, and the pressure and lifestyle of the wrestling industry in the 1980’s, it also emphasizes the importance of the loving role women can have in a man’s life.
Pam is one of the strongest characters in the film despite her not being the main focus of the story.
From the very beginning, she allows Kevin to express himself, share his true feelings and desires, and despite the difficulty he is going through, she supports him and provides the love and support that ultimately allow him to escape the “Von Erich Curse” and live a happy life outside of wrestling.