Even if you aren’t a wrestling fan, Sean Durkin’s The Iron Claw is a must-watch. The film is a retelling of the life of the iconic wrestling family, The Von Erichs, and the “curse” that has followed their family.

The film slowly introduces us to each of the characters, beginning with Fritz’s journey as a wrestler. However, the focus is mainly on the Von Erich brothers (with Chris missing from the film), Kevin (Zac Efron), Kerry (Jeremy Allen White), David (Harris Dickinson), and Mike (Stanley Simons). Under the extreme pressures from their father, Fritz (Holt McCallany), the brothers work tirelessly to fulfill what he could never accomplish, being the World Heavyweight Champion. Not even their mother Doris (Maura Tierney) is free from the stern and watchful eyes of Fritz, who we witness tell Kevin to sort issues amongst the brothers, rather than reach out to her or their father.

The cold and stern environment takes its toll on the brothers, which we see unravel with time. Kevin, who despite being the oldest brother, is looked over for opportunities by his father. However, although we see his disappointment, Kevin remains a supporting brother. While on the sidelines, Kevin continues to hone his craft, while also falling in love with Pam (Lily James) and starting a family of his own. These moments of happiness are crushed however, as the “curse” continues to ravage the family.

Although the film starts off a bit slow, the acting and production keep you totally engaged. Every actor is phenomenal, but Zac Efron in particular is a standout and definitely deserves an Oscar nomination. Efron is completely transformed physically and mentally, and you totally feel for the anguish and stress his character is experiencing. Holt McCallany is also spectacular, as well as Maura Tierney, who plays a quietly tragic character. The film is a heavy one, and I was definitely overwhelmed with emotion towards the end.

Overall, this is a poignant film not just about wrestling and toxic masculinity, but about loss, the inseparable love amongst brothers, and learning to be comfortable continuing to love and be true to yourself. While I understand the frustration of fans of wrestling missing more details on the family, I still think this film did a tremendous job juggling years of the family’s history. It is truly beautiful, and I definitely recommend checking this out on the big screen.

We give The Iron Claw a 5/5.