“This is the heavyweight tear-jerker of the year.”
The first reviews have hit the web for Zac Efron’s much-anticipated wrestling drama The Iron Claw and they are very, very good.
Written and directed by Sean Durkin (Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Nest), the movie is based on the life of professional wrestler Kevin Von Erich (Efron) and the Von Erich family, who suffered a string of tragedies – leading some to dub them cursed.
The plot synopsis for The Iron Claw from its producer A24 reads:
“The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach (Holt McCallany, Mindhunter), the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.”
Zac Efron’s new wrestling drama The Iron Claw is garnering brilliant reviews
Co-starring alongside Efron and McCallany in the movie is Harris Dickinson (Triangle of Sadness), Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Lily James (Pam & Tommy) and Maura Tierney (The Affair).
At the time of writing, The Iron Claw holds a 93% Rotten Tomatoes score based on 44 reviews.
Here is a sample of some of the glowing write-ups the film has received from critics.
AV Club: “Durkin’s gift is as a stylist, with his camera soaking in the grief-stricken atmosphere until it’s dripping with dread.”
The Hollywood Reporter: “As a wrenching American heartland saga, The Iron Claw is certainly compelling, and to anyone unfamiliar with the Von Erichs’ history, each jolt of fresh anguish delivered to the family will be startling.”
IndieWire: “This is the heavyweight tear-jerker of the year.”
The Messenger: “Much like Raging Bull isn’t a boxing movie, but a drama with boxing, The Iron Claw is a drama with pro wrestling.”
ScreenCrush: “A moving tribute to pro wrestling and its practitioners.”
The Iron Claw will be released in Irish cinemas on 9 February 2024. You can check out its trailer right here:
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