The Iron Claw Review - The Ephemeral Nature of 'Living That Way Forever'

By. Kai Swanson | swansonkai0@gmail.com

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Sean Durkin's 2023 film The Iron Claw is a poignant exploration of family, legacy, and the pursuit of the American Dream, set against the backdrop of professional wrestling. The film centers around the Von Erich family, particularly focusing on patriarch Fritz (Holt McCallany) and his sons, as they navigate the highs and lows of wrestling fame. Durkin masterfully intertwines themes of familial bond, ambition, and the cost of success, painting a complex portrait of a family caught in the relentless pursuit of a legacy. Through stunning performances and a deeply layered narrative, The Iron Claw emerges as a compelling drama that transcends its sports backdrop to delve into the heart of the human condition and the elusive nature of true achievement

The film opens with a lingering, black and white close-up shot of younger Fritz in the middle of his career as a wrestler. He, his expecting wife Doris (Maura Tierney), and their two young boys David and Kevin (Valentine Newcomer and Grady Wilson) live in a small trailer hooked to the back of their rundown, dated car. Rather than being able to afford a new car and an actual home from his wrestling earnings, Fritz posits to his wife that if he improves his appearance in the eyes of fans, then it will lead to their success eventually. And as we see in the next scene, it does to some extent - 20 years later his family is living together on a big, beautiful wrestling training facility stylized as a family ranch. Fritz’s dream is not a journey towards genuine success, but as a relentless chase for the mere appearance of it. Although echoing the critical poise of Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980), Durkin quickly establishes this film not as an homage but as an exploration of a family ensnared in the trappings of the pursuit of creating a wrestling legacy. The apparent goal is not genuine achievement, but rather the illusion of prosperity - a theme resonating deeply within the framework of modernity and continuing to smear its remnants across contemporary masculinity. The film's initial scenes dismantle the archetypal underdog narrative, presenting instead a nuanced deconstruction of the American Dream.

As the narrative unfolds, Durkin's direction adeptly immerses the viewer into the lives of the von Erich brothers, reminiscent of his earlier works like Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) and The Nest (2020). The film's potency lies in its ability to make the audience feel the undercurrents of control and manipulation exerted by Fritz, a complex antagonist. Fritz eschews physical abuse for a more insidious form of manipulation: he leverages paternal love as a tool to perpetuate his legacy. This subtle form of control, expertly depicted, leaves the audience grappling with the invisible chains that bind the brothers.

Kevin von Erich, brilliantly prepared and performed by Zac Efron, is a conduit for the audience’s empathy. The inciting incident of the film, Kevin’s encounter with his future wife, Pam (Lily James), introduces a stark contrast to the familial discord. This narrative pivot points to Durkin’s interest in exploring the dichotomies of human relationships, particularly in the context of societal expectations versus personal desires. The film thus becomes a contemporary exploration of Greek tragedy, where fate and character are intertwined in a complex web of family, love, and perceived societal expectations.

This intricate exploration is further deepened as the characters within The Iron Claw begin to self-mythologize their own family history, imbuing it with a sense of an inescapable curse akin to a tragic flaw in Greek plays. The von Erichs, much like the ill-fated heroes of ancient Greece, seem to grapple with a predestined path of sorrow and downfall. This self-perpetuating myth within the family not only shapes their individual identities but also serves as a narrative fulcrum, around which the film's drama intensifies. Their self-awareness and acceptance of this 'familial curse' add a layer of tragic inevitability, as each character's actions become both a reaction to and a reinforcement of the myth they have woven around their lineage. Durkin cleverly uses this motif to comment on the human tendency to construct and internalize narratives that define and often confine our life choices, creating a poignant parallel to the ancient Greek understanding of fate and character.

In Greek tragedy, the struggle against an ordained fate often leads to downfall, symbolizing the inescapable nature of destiny. This narrative finds a compelling parallel in the American context, where the American Dream promotes the idea that each generation should achieve greater success than the previous one. However, this aspiration, much like the tragic Greek fate, can become a burdensome legacy, where the expectations and dreams of forebears become an obligatory path for their descendants, often at the cost of personal aspirations and happiness.

Moreover, the expectations of modernity in America further complicate this dynamic. Modern American culture often emphasizes individualism, self-realization, and personal success, ideals that can be at odds with the traditional concept of upholding family legacies. This conflict mirrors the tension in Greek tragedies between personal desires and predetermined paths. In the modern American setting, this translates into a struggle between carving out one's unique identity and fulfilling the expectations of family heritage and societal norms.

Thus, the thematic thread of maintaining family legacies, so central to Greek tragedy, finds a resonant echo in the American narrative. It highlights the often painful dichotomy between the pursuit of the American Dream, with its promise of personal success and freedom, and the weight of generational expectations and the predefined roles inherited from the past. This interplay between ancient tropes and modern contexts adds a rich layer of complexity to contemporary storytelling, inviting audiences to reflect on the timeless nature of these conflicts.

This thematic thread is skillfully woven through various familial interactions, specifically the subtle and expertly performed dialogue of the matriarch of the Von Erich family, Doris. A notable instance occurs during Kevin's wedding, where Doris, in a private conversation with her husband Fritz, subtly underscores the significance of their daughter-in-law’s appearance when she puts on makeup. Without revealing too much of the plot, another particularly memorable scene unfolds as Doris prepares for one of her son’s funerals. In a conversation with Pam, she reveals her inability to attend the funeral, citing a reluctance to be seen wearing the same outfit she had donned for her other sons' funerals. This moment poignantly reflects not Doris's superficiality, but rather her struggle to express her deep-seated emotions after years of bearing the weight of being the Von Erich family's matriarch.

Mátyás Erdély’s cinematography further bends the film’s treatment of time and space. The frame, maintaining a constant 1.88:1 aspect ratio, even when moving through various eras of cinematographic apparatuses, serves as a visual metaphor for the unchanging and inescapable nature and to a larger discourse about historicity and modernity, suggesting that the struggles of the von Erich family are not confined to the past but continue to filter into the lives and resonate with contemporary audiences. 

In a pivotal scene, Fritz’s destiny-sealing flip of a coin to select the next torchbearer of his wrestling legacy deftly encapsulates the film's thematic core. This coin toss is not merely a decision-making tool; it symbolizes the mythological payment to Charon for passage, the audience's entry into the inner world of the Von Erich family. The coin's descent not only seals the fate of Kevin, our window into this complex family saga, but also signifies the viewer's tacit agreement to bear witness to the unfolding tragedies that befall the characters closest to our protagonist. This moment serves as a powerful narrative device, intertwining the audience’s journey with the characters' fates, echoing the inexorable march of destiny central to both Greek tragedy and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream.

A particularly poignant scene features the youngest and most artistically inclined brother, Mike Von Erich (Stanley Simon), performing the song “Live that Way Forever.” This piece, written specifically for the film by the composer Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire and Laurel Sprengelmeyer of Little Scream, captures a moment of pure, ephemeral joy. Mike, in his element, is surrounded by friends and buoyed by his brothers' love and support. Yet, the scene is tinged with the sorrowful undertone of transience, hinting that these moments of unbridled happiness are fleeting.

The song's reprise in the film's closing credits, now rendered in a different chord and with the vocals of Laurel Sprengelmeyer herself, signifies more than a mere change in performer. It marks a profound narrative and thematic transition. This shift echoes Kevin's transformative journey from being ensnared in the web of his family's legacy to embarking on a path of emotional vulnerability and healing. This transformation, catalyzed by his relationship with his wife Pam, mirrors wider societal progress in redefining notions of masculinity and reevaluating the responsibilities inherent in family dynamics. The song, in both its incarnations, thus becomes a lyrical metaphor for change, growth, and the bittersweet acknowledgment that nothing, however beautiful, lasts forever.

The film's dialogue often takes a backseat to the performances, where the yearning and pain in the characters' eyes speak volumes about their internal struggles. Zac Efron's portrayal of Kevin von Erich is a career-defining performance. His performance is built with subtle complexity, conveying the weight of unspoken pain and the burden of living up to an impossible legacy. Efron's character and performance challenge the Academy's traditional criteria for recognition, echoing the film's themes of legacy and the often unseen struggles behind public personas - often a performance. Zac Efron's career, marked by his transition from a Disney Channel icon to a mature actor taking on more challenging roles, represents a narrative often bypassed by the Academy. His portrayal of Kevin is a testament to this evolution. Despite delivering performances that consistently push the boundaries of his range (see Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, dir. Joe Berlinger, 2019), Efron has been largely overlooked by the Academy, which often favors actors with more traditional or classical training and career paths. This oversight is indicative of a broader pattern within the Academy, where actors known for their beginnings in youth or pop culture-centric media are not taken as seriously, regardless of their subsequent growth and depth in later roles.

Efron's physicality in the film is especially noteworthy. He not only transformed his body to embody the role of a professional wrestler but he pushed it to a point to also convey the emotional toll of Kevin's journey. His body, trained, tanned, and beaten down for the von Erich legacy, appears to be a physical burden to him. His performance showcases a profound understanding of the character's physical and emotional landscape, a feat that requires both physical rigor and deep emotional insight. The Academy, traditionally focused on overt dramatic performances from characters in grandiose high-budget films, might gloss over the subtlety and intensity of a physically demanding role like this, despite its critical importance to the film’s storytelling. While many actors have garnered acclaim for roles that require intense physical transformation, often characterized by dramatically reducing their physical presence to portray suffering or hardship, Efron takes a different path. His remarkable portrayal is achieved through a rigorous physical bulking up, where actors like Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club and Christian Bale for The Machinist have been celebrated for their extreme weight loss to embody their characters, a different form of suffering and hardship on the physical frame. Efron’s physique underscores the film’s commentary on the dichotomy between public perception and private reality, mirroring the often overlooked struggles and sacrifices made by individuals in the pursuit of upholding a legacy. In doing so, Efron not only elevates his own artistry but also broadens the horizons of what is considered award-worthy in cinema.

The Iron Claw, as an indie film, faces its own set of challenges in garnering recognition from the Academy. independent films, particularly those that tell unconventional stories or adopt unique narrative styles, often struggle to gain the same level of attention as their mainstream counterparts. This is compounded by the fact that indie films typically have lower budgets for marketing and campaigning, which are crucial for Oscar consideration. While many indie films do make it to the Oscars, it's important to recognize that "indie" is not just an aesthetic—it's an aesthetic shaped by creative decisions necessitated by limited budgets, unlike those of unlike those of major Hollywood studios – major media conglomerates. Many of the conglomerates streaming platforms end up picking up these indie films at a discount rate, which the filmmaking team agrees to just so the film can see the light of day. If you’re interested in seeing the film, here is a reminder that it is available to watch on the Max streaming platform – a proprietary unit of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Streaming & Interactive Entertainment.

The Iron Claw stands as a profound exploration of the intricate web of familial bonds, the relentless pursuit of legacy, and the burdensome cost of succumbing to entrenched familial expectations. Sean Durkin’s film transcends the boundaries of a mere narrative about wrestling in the 1980s, it takes a story that could have easily been a nostalgia bomb with record drop after record drop, which was how the film was brilliantly marketed, and creates a resonant commentary on the intricacies of the human condition and the fleeting nature of success while critically examination the often illusory pursuit of the a modern American Dream. 

The title The Iron Claw resonates with layered meaning, serving as a clever double entendre. On one hand, it signifies the iconic wrestling move that Fritz von Erich bequeathed to his children, symbolizing a cherished family legacy. On the other hand, it metaphorically represents the universal struggle every family faces. Just as the von Erichs grapple with their 'Iron Claw,' each family, in pursuit of its own legacy, confronts its distinct set of challenges, legacies, and expectations. This metaphor and this film encapsulate the intricate dynamics and burdens that are an inherent part of multi-generational family units, transcending the literal context to touch upon a profound and universal truth.

Crew:

• Director: Sean Durkin

• Producers: Tessa Ross, Derrin Schlesinger, Juliette Howell, and Angus Lamont

• Writer: Sean Durkin

• Cinematographer: Mátyás Erdély

• Casting: Susan Shopmaker

• Editor: Matthew Hannam

• Sound Design: Kourtney Alexander, David Chan, Matthew Chan

• Music: Richard Reed Perry

• Production Design: James Price

• Costume Design: Jennifer Starzyk

• Makeup Head: Elle Favorule

Cast:

• Zac Efron as Kevin Von Erich

• Jeremy Allen White as Kerry Von Erich

• Harris Dickinson as David Von Erich

• Lily James as Doris Von Erich

• Maura Tierney as Patricia Von Erich

• Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich

• Stanley Simons as Mike Von Erich
  

For more information about above the line and below the line crew and additional cast, here is a link to the film’s IMDb page.