THE IRON CLAW - Movie Review

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[@83aber1]

Kerry Von Erich wrestled with a foot prosthesis. Insane!

[@ajpal9618]

What was amazing how they kept that a secret until last year. I don’t care who you are. No one knew outside of the von Erich clan that kerry was wrestling with the prosthesis foot. That was not revealed until the documentary on the family. It was amazing. Now you understand why WWF cooled off on him when his contract ended.

[@willthorburn1985]

​@@ajpal9618ummm no...wrestling fans knew of Kerry wrestling on a prosthetic foot well before a year ago

[@empireJSS]

​@@ajpal9618 To screw with the AWA, McMahon tried to get the athletic commission in Illinois to prevent KVE from wrestling at SuperClash 3 in 1988 because of the amputation.

[@thesmilingtitan]

The thumbnail is the closest you have come to have a movie specific thumbnail.

[@deepfocuslens]

it was...completely unintentional XD

[@vangoghny2k]

I also thought she was demonstrating the claw, funny.

[@danielcaraveo4844]

​@@deepfocuslens Hay Maggie are u a wrestling fan? How bout UFC fan?

[@danielcaraveo4844]

​@@deepfocuslensWould u prefer The Wrestler ot Iron Claw?

[@ChichiNaka]

Its crazy that they didn't even cover 'all' the brothers and their tragedies

[@donkeydarko77]

Don't worry, Zack Snyder is prepping a Director's Cut for Netflix that's about 4 hours long.

[@mikeywalt8918]

The build up to a match that takes place later in the film is one of my favorite sequences of the year. You can feel the despair transforming into rage in real time. So visceral, I was blown away.

[@RadReviews777]

I mostly agree with your criticisms here, but I don't think it was really TRYING to pull on the heartstrings. I felt it to be more like they were just telling the story, and if we have a reaction to it, then we do or don't. It feels as if we're one of Fritz's kids (especially Efron's Kevin in particular), having to just suck it up as we're just being hit with one thing after another. I forget which brother it was, but there was this really powerfully subtle scene where something happens and Efron just stares like he's dead inside and doesn't quite know how to process what just happened. And just like his dad says to not cry, that's how the scene felt, like it just couldn't quite work the tears out of me, but it felt like they were coming. And that subtle scene where we just see the wind blowing the trees as the camera lingers. The movie really puts you in the shoes as if you're one of his kids, almost instilling that sense of a wrestler's discipline within you. There was an air of hopefulness about it, and like you said, the message of how family is important. Also, back then, wrestling was taken a lot more seriously. They protected the business, and it wasn't nearly as campy as it had gotten over the yrs.

[@mutavhello6654]

"I used to have five brothers, now I'm no brother at all" Idk if that quote made it into the movie or not, but it has stuck with me for years.

[@ajford3973]

Yeah that quote is in the movie just different wording. “I used to be a brother but i’m not a brother anymore”

[@johndelena_plus1goofballs]

They took out the 5 Brothers part. Because they didn't include Chris in the movie. The youngest. Who took his life at 21. Because he felt like the runt at 5'4. Even in death he is still treated as such. There is no story of Kerry without Chris. Kerry was 1 Chris was number 5. So Kerry always watched out for his baby brother. When Chris died, Kerry spun out of control. So much so Kerry ended his journey almost to a T the way Chris did.

[@rics1883]

That scene broke me

[@TylerNorCal]

Glad to hear, as a pro wrestling fan for years i was intrigued by this movie actually looking very good. Going to see it next week.

[@tg995nation6]

I heard Kevin sold everything, moved to Hawaii. Am glad for him. He survived.

[@drewhunkins7192]

The Iron Claw is the best film of 2023. Easily.

[@luxurybuzz3681]

Godzilla Minus One for me

[@pleaseshutup7053]

Film of the year for sure

[@runjon]

I enjoy how in-depth your reviews are.

[@OdinAesthetic]

I echo your sentiments, with the movie needing more emotion in certain places. I grew up with the von erichs. I grew up watching them. It was a bit tough to swallow the rushed timeline they used: within 45 minutes there's a bike crash, loss of leg, in ring injury, multiple suicides and a death in Japan. It was almost like REALLY? I would have preffered a stretched out slightly more realistic timeline. They clearly wanted Kevin to be the feature. I understand. But its to the detriment to the story of the family.

[@pikachuuprising637]

It's quite ironic that the director cut off the character of Chris Von Erich because he said that movie had enough tragedies

[@83aber1]

The Von Erich wrestling family went through so much tragedy.

[@alexconway4950]

Happy Christmas Maggie. Thanks for all the content in 2023 in what has seemed a bit of a dry year in cinema.

[@kfletch19]

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie as an 80's wrestling fan. Wonder if the first half would have been more connecting if it focused more on the lost of the first Von Erich son, Jack jr. Kevin was only 2 years old when he was electrocuted but there's interviews on KZbin were Fritz and his wife talk out the lost. Fritz mentioned in one about the guilt he felt when Jack died because he wasn't there. I know the death of the last brother, Chris is not included also. He died from suicide about a year and a half before Kerry.

[@Dan_Yerlll]

You are the best review channel on KZbin. I predict your channel will be at 1 million subscribers within two years.

[@BruceColon-BSides]

I was really hoping you’d review this one. Gonna catch it this weekend. Can’t wait.

[@sadomazur]

Nice to see that u are active on your channel keep going on :)

[@looney1023]

Usually I'm not a stickler for accuracy but for this story, I can't believe they decided that it was okay to just cut out a brother entirely for runtime purposes. It makes the whole thing feel a bit soulless. And even with an entire brother missing, the film is so shallow and rushed. Also, that magical realism scene totally lost me.

[@TheNegative]

From what I heard they cut out a brother to not make the movie just a tragedy fest.

[@bobcobb3654]

That seems to be what Twitter is mad about, yes.

[@looney1023]

I don't care about Twitter's opinion, but for me it doesn't work. It makes the whole film feel a bit soulless and kind of exposes the writer/director as caring about the Oscars and the mainstream success over the actual humans whose lives and deaths they're portraying.@@bobcobb3654

[@johndelena_plus1goofballs]

I agree with most of what you said. Chris needed to be in it. The last sentence though. Kevin has said he talked to his mom alot and they would talk about Kerry going there to meet the brothers. (Even on his grave it says he went to go walk with his brothers). And that's what brought them peace. He did not tell the director that. So when he sat down and watched the movie he said he had a giant smile while crying at that. Because it was just like he and his mom had envisioned for all those years.

[@robchuk4136]

You look like you're getting ready to step into the ring yourself! I can see what you're saying about Kerry in the 3rd Act, and I even agree this is one movie that could benefit from a longer runtime. One aspect that might not have been clear enough was how Fritz was cooking the books, and why that was a key to how much control he had over his sons financially. I think this is a really strong film though. The first half probably works a little stronger if you're a wrestling fan, since that's the 'fun' half, and I enjoyed all the familiar faces. But personally I think The Iron Claw is way too depressing for a Christmas release. Anyway, I really enjoyed hearing a review so analytical.

[@ronpotts6385]

I haven't followed wrestling since I was 10 or so, but I still connected strongly with the story because I too have a brother, through not multiple brothers like Kevin did. I thought that the portrayal of the family dynamic within the Von Erich family is what really sold the film for me, as well as what happened when each brother failed in some way to reach his goals in rhe highly competitive wrestling world. I left the theater feeling very emotional, but glad that I got to be with the characters on theor journey.

[@danielbarrero8665]

do you have a Letterboxd?

[@jamk2668]

"It's not trying to make some point about toxic masculinity." Ummm...I mean, the second to last line of the movie is literally, "It's okay to cry, Dad. We cry all the time." Yes, that scene is pretty effective but let's not pretend that it's not trying to push you towards a particular point.

[@deepfocuslens]

Yeah for sure. I agree that line was cringey. But, compared to most movies these days, I'd say this one went light on that.

[@johndelena_plus1goofballs]

No. That was the point Kevin broke the cycle. That it is OK. Kevin is doing great with his kids and so many grandchildren in Hawaii, 2 of his sons wrestle now.

[@saltyXoloco]

One scene I personally wanted more weight was Kevin seeing Kerry with the belt, other more seasoned directions might’ve started off with a close up on Kevin to show his change in expressing. I think him walking from the dark side of the room was effective.

[@Wayne-B]

Another great review, I grew up watching wrestling and was told stories von erichs by my father, Also dark side of the ring had a documentary about them that might be worth watching.

[@tristancreed]

I remember seeing that episode of The Dark Side Of The Ring. And I was just a wreck at that time. It's hard to fathom what's going on in Kevin Von Erich's mind considering all the loss. And seeing him how he wouldn't trade all that peace he's found shows just the tip of the iceberg.

[@theragoooverlord5021]

The wwe produced triumph and tragedy of world class championship wrestling might still be on KZbin. That's better than the dark side of the ring imo

[@Wayne-B]

@@theragoooverlord5021 thanks for the recommendation, i'll check it out.

[@skabcat242]

I re-watched Dark Side of the Ring after seeing this movie. I am glad Kevin is living a better peaceful life.

[@robertaustin6302]

I’m a wrestling fan so I was already familiar with the tragic story of the Von Erich family. I enjoyed the movie and appreciate the dedication of all involved to tell their story. I though the bond between the brothers was the most compelling stuff and they did a great job of selling that. Probably not one I’ll go back to again though because it’s such a bummer but glad I’m glad I saw it and hope others find the story interesting.

[@rd2440]

Will check this one out. You may enjoy the show Heels, which does a pretty solid job with the campiness/seriousness of pro wrestling.

[@BrettV7]

Are you going to do Rebel Moon? Looking fwd to it!

[@danielcastillo4537]

But this is the consequence of telling a biopic. How does it faithfully tell a story without compromising elements in a way that Sophia Coppola does in "Priscilla" and a bigger disservice of Mercury in a movie like "Bohemian Rhapsody." I enjoyed this movie. It wasn't a film hitting bullet points but using the tragedy of The Von Erichs to address themes. For example the myth of the stoic Texan male, grief, depression and ultimately a generational or inherited suicide. I saw the Von Erichs wrestle in my teens. By the way Kevin did attempt suicide but he stopped because he didn't want to hurt his family.

[@RB-.-]

The best part of this movie for me is that I had no idea about this story going into it 😆

[@repeatrerun2047]

Great review!

[@andygaines5647]

The actually had another brother that they left out of the movie (he also passed away).

[@Sharvalgon]

Off topic but could you spill your diet/workout routine? I need to be as in shape as you.

[@deepfocuslens]

I can but...it's as rigorous as you might expect lol.

[@Sharvalgon]

@@deepfocuslens Please do!

[@deepfocuslens]

@@Sharvalgon I think part of it is that I genuinely love to exercise, which helps tremendously. I try and run a couple of miles a day, about four times a week. I do a lot of upper body workouts such as 10-20 pullups per day. Lots of squats and glute bridges while holding weights, donkey kicks/planks with exercise bands, about 100 ab crunches a day/leg lifts to get the a stronger core. Inner thigh workouts as well. Finding the areas you want to focus on is key and finding the best workouts for results. Lots of flexibility training since I was a dancer for many years. I do a mini- military style obstacle course maybe once a week which really helps my upper body muscles, and my cardio. Jump rope can be a good thing too. Maybe 5-10 minutes a day if you don't have time to get to the rest. It can get time consuming if you lollygag. I also do boxing and jiu-jitsu classes which are highly intense. And I just love hiking, rock climbing, dancing, playing outside...even on the days when I'm not technically working out. Try and get outside, make it fun, and that's what keeps you young and spirited. It does more for my mental than my physical.

[@Sharvalgon]

@@deepfocuslens Thank you for taking the time to respond Maggie, I appreciate it. It is HUGELY admirable that you're able to sustain that level of exercise, I guess you can pretty much eat what you like and keep the weight off 🙂

[@deepfocuslens]

@@Sharvalgon No problem. Yeah, I follow no diet. Just eat when I am hungry. The more calories, the better.

[@MrTkeddo]

I miss those WWF days

[@realDialFforFilm]

I don't love wrestling the way I used to, but I grew up on it and consumed as much wrestling knowledge as possible. So, I am very on board to see a depiction of the Von Erich family, a wrestling story rich for cinematic treatment. I'm irritated by the knowledge that the youngest brother, Chris Von Erich, has been omitted and the explanation for why doesn't gel with me. Nevertheless, I'm curious to watch it and see how they handle this tragic material.

[@kenrainoshek1569]

You mentioned my favorite band, Iron Maiden! \m/

[@JohmathanBSwift]

Haven't seen it yet. Going this Tuesday.

[@jesusangelespinosasalgado9430]

Martha Marcy May Marlene and The Nest were my thing completely... I'm not really interested in this one because of the subject but I trust this director and you. I'll look foward it

[@garyshipes8827]

Durkin delivers all the things we loved about MMMM and The Nest here...a GREAT filmmaker. You'll love this too!

[@sunny3907]

Aaah. My favourite KZbin reviewer with the never ending elbow.

[@bengordon4690]

This film hit me hard in the feels in the end despite not overly leaning on the emotional responses to the various tragedies as they happen. All in all though it wraps itself up so beautifully, I couldnt help but bawl at the end 😂

[@juststatedtheobvious9633]

The one request the surviving brother had for this movie, was that it show the brothers' love for each other. A lot of what people will regard as cheesy is just being genuine. As for the camp, that wasn't so much a thing in Texas wrestling. A lot of what pro wrestling was aiming for is what the UFC does now. They had to guard their secrets carefully.

[@Skyblueparkbench]

"This movie should have been a little more shameless" aha very clever

[@sandorx4]

I'm really looking forward to this one. Mátyás Erdély is one of the best cinematographers working today.

[@sandorx4]

Now I've seen it, and it was really disappointing. I was sceptical about the subject matter. I guess only Americans care about this fake wrestling thing. I don't understand all the rave reviews. There is nothing artistic here, just a flat biopic about extremely uninteresting people who feel like trailer people. Erdély's lensing was fine but nowhere near his best. The Nest was so much better in every way.

[@drennyvision6141]

There were only 2 times where the dad was....who he was, in the beginning ranking his kids and in the end when he gets the phone call and says he called you. I wish we had more of that in the film. And I wish they showed more of Zac loving the time with his brother cuz we had gotten 2/3 thru the movie b4 I realized he was the main character.

[@drennyvision6141]

Also i was waiting for AT LEAST ONE of his kids to stand up to him. Cuz he keeps saying WE will win the championship long as YOU do the work. I waited the whole movie for for just one of them kids to say NO I!!!! will win the championship 🎉🎉🎉

[@jikorijo4516]

I haven’t seen the Iron Claw yet, but I had a question: Are you going to see Godzilla: Minus One?

[@lionlike5856]

I thought the locker room scene with ric flair was such a cool, borderline brilliant touch. It perfectly hinted at the comradery behind the scenes of professional wrestling. You’re fully expecting him to be this elitist pretty boy douchebag but turns out he’s a total bro, wholly invested & appreciative of the sport & the showmanship. It was my favorite moment of the film & I think that single scene said so much of the reality of wrestling & what makes it beautiful.

[@leastlikedcritic7529]

good review

[@SpaceDolphinPosadist]

Man I didn't know this even existed. The comments already said it. They were a holy family in that business

[@pikachuuprising637]

Its messed up that they didnt include Chris Von Erich

[@seanwade2218]

Watch done 80’s Ric Flair promos. I honestly think you might knock down the movie a peg just because of how awful the actors attempt at a portrayal was. Not his fault, but wrestlers have unique personalities that are hard to replicate

[@luxurybuzz3681]

Woooooooooooooo!!!!!!

[@greekmillennial4540]

Should they have included the youngest brother Chris as well (the youngest brother who also took his own life) in Iron Claw?

[@mrdozey7361]

It's weird that they left a whole brother out of the movie.

[@donkeydarko77]

Ziggy?

[@bobcobb3654]

@@donkeydarko77Shemp Von Erich.

[@bobcobb3654]

Maybe they didn’t want to zero in on the one that barely wrestled, looked like a perpetual teenager, and shot himself in the head. Seems the movie had enough tragedy.

[@mrdozey7361]

It just feels a little distasteful to omit the brother who's motivation for suicide appeared to be not being as good as his brothers so much so that he gets left out of the movie about a family that commits alot of suicide@@bobcobb3654

[@Teejel]

Review the boy and the heron

[@tattarrrrattat]

Review Red Rooms please :)

[@davidnewsom1146]

Spot on.

[@chrisakane9840]

It was a great film.

[@SteveJonesOwnsDSP]

I love Maggie 💗

[@PulseRELOADED]

Please review leave the world behind 🙏🏼

[@mattsheezy5469]

You kinda remind me of the singer of the Sneaker Pimps, from the live version of “Six Underground” 09/27/97. You don’t really look like her, but she just reminds me of you.

[@akashnagar8694]

Great job mam 👍

[@Cravatron]

I just couldn't believe they left out dead kids. The 5 year old I get nobody wants to watch a five year old die and you can't really show that at the start of a movie that is a joykiller and will really set the mood. The other brother on the other hand really shows how much a sociopath the father was.

[@michaelgrife6964]

No one should be given this amount of beauty.

[@Sharvalgon]

Agreed. She's gorgeous.

[@schoolofrockcary6625]

I had not heard of this movie, so my first thought when seeing the title of this vid was "Is she reviewing old Kung Fu flicks now?" 😅

[@gothicgorey]

God that film was good but depressing. I need a brew and a comedy after it

[@jackieboyborden]

Kerry did feel the least real

[@joed7185]

Just saw this with my wife tonight....5.5/10...I think this film stuck too close to the standard biopic formula. I wished the story or editing of the film would've been told with like a "arms length away approach" kinda how the film "Ida" was edited and shot. would have been way more effective than inserting the standard sad music at the dramatic scenes. Reaching too hard for the feels. The story is tragic by itself.

[@johndelena_plus1goofballs]

It was more tragic. There was another brother Chris, that ended his journey. David had a daughter, that passed. Kerry has 2 beautiful daughters that are doing great to this day!

[@kroulinka]

Why no Oscar worthy?

[@scottsleith]

Biggest problem for me was 4 brothers die all off screen. Good story poorly executed could have been much sadder

[@karlknight4678]

You're amazing

[@sharonpeters7723]

Heeeeey, girlfriend. Fun Fact: I have an adult toy called The Iron Claw.

[@jackortizano8181]

I get the feeling that the review lacks n understanding of masculine bonding. Perhaps some female viewers will struggle with this.

[@bwzarchive708]

Great film! But i gotta say that Ric Flair impersonator was mid :P

[@blurs1860]

Way to much criticism to say you liked it with a straight face. But you pulled it off🤷🏻‍♂️

[@citpeks2000]

I had no interest in seeing this one, but you may have changed my mind.

[@johndcornell6341]

How about a shirt???

[@blinkzone1]

Id like to see you in wrestling match between you vs Christy Lemire..Alonso Duralde unexpectedly interferes by tripping the ref unconscious and then smashes you in the back with a chair. Alonso then waves the rainbow pride flag to the audience. The audience starts throwing food and vegetables for the bad finish

[@WT1wL]

🦉🦉

[@JimWeaverFeb11]

You are fetching.

[@genxtasy9914]

Movie would of been 3 hours if all your crtiques were included. I wouldnt mind but fhe normies would tune out. Thats why they cut the other brother that killed himself. Director said it would be too long.

[@MadSimple]

You look like a young Cher

[@abhiezibran9654]

This is a strange movie for me in A way. I loved the first half, completely shattered by the tragedies, felt broken. But wasnt sure the screenplay justified the story enough to earn those moments. Also did they play the lack of emotions as subtlety? The reactions to the first death, then Pomy quietly crying in the funeral, what were those all about? What worked big time were the way the wrestlings were shot. But those too kinda gone colder, specially the last big battle was so disappointing. Din hv enough for the buildup it did. Then, at places the acting felt off. That gun.gifting scene between the dad and Jeremy, the acting felt forced. I think Zac is the only good thing first to last. I hope that softness was right on par with the real character. Cz otherwise, that felt weird too at times. Love the music, energy and the story though. But ultimately a bit underwhelming. din love it the way I thought I would. Overall, Durkin's MMM was the best followed by The Nest, which was underrated. This one is a missed opportunity.

[@scifiguy333]

Couldn’t disagree with you more. I do feel that some of the dialogue was clunky though. I am possibly more invested in the film due to growing up in Dallas when this was all going on. Dallas/Ft. Worth loved the whole family immensely (at least the wrestling fans). Obviously they took some liberties but it did a lot with the constraints put upon it. Casting was a bit off for a few characters but I thought overall it was very good and the acting was stellar all around (outside of the aforementioned dialogue). Cried like a baby and I haven’t done that since the “have a catch” scene in Field of Dreams.

[@user-zy7di5no8x]

Thought it was crap, liked watching trump supporters,

[@user-ip3fy1to2z]

didn't like it, yee hah

[@stevecatanio8532]

I like you.

[@Troy1g]

Disappointed.

[@paulpizzlewizzle]

Will you marry me?

[@thescapegoatmechanism8704]

Efron’s face is so off-putting to me now that I can’t sit through this. I hate Jeremy’s dopey eyes too

[@4everpartyy]

This not being a brilliant film might be the first time I’ve disagreed with you.

[@JeffPLut]

i would love to see this movie up for movie of the yr next yr cause they picked movies for 2023 in 2024 .... such a sad story