This movie made me go through a very physical grieving process for…a family of 80s wrestlers??? I’ve never been more surprised and devastated in my life. Great video!

I was already in tears but the part that really had me choking trying not to let out a sob was the end with Kevin, his kids and the lines "I used to be a brother" and "we'll be your brothers". Insanely good acting from Zac Efron in this film.

Absolutely maddening how this film got no awards buzz given it’s better than 95% of the movies that won last year

When Kevin told his boys that he was sad because he wasn’t a brother anymore and they hugged him and said “we’ll be your brothers” 😭 oh man… my heart 💔

I grew up with 3 brothers and a hard ass dad. This movie had me crying at the end. The parallels I saw hit me especially hard. Being a man is having to suffer in silence and imagining the pain Kevin must have felt hurt in a special way.

You perfectly described why I thought this film felt so different from other biopics. It wasn’t really about telling the story of this amazing wrestling family and how they made it to the top. It was about THEM, the people and their dynamic as a family. The film didn’t focus too much on the matches, the training process, or the fame aspect. All of that is in the background of a far more emotional story, that I feel like many viewers, especially men, can relate to.

I saw this on a snowy night and had to go for a walk after watching this.

As someone who does know the full context behind the “Von Erich curse” I can sort of understand why the filmmakers cut out some things. This story’s sad enough without Fritz’s eventual slide into madness due to brain cancer, Kevin’s mother leaving Fritz, and the suicide of the youngest brother, Chris (who isn’t even featured in the movie)

Picked this movie because it was the only movie playing with seats available. Left speechless. Not the first date kinda movie lol.

i think the ending made cry so much because i honestly picture heaven this angelic place where it’s so beautiful and you have true joy. and the way they portrayed the brothers meeting again broke me in the best way possible.

The end where he’s like, “I “was” a brother, but not anymore” got me. Made me think about all of my generation going before me and how I don’t think I could handle that

Wow. What a wonderful job dissecting this movie. Makes complete and total sense, I was wondering why this movie felt so different. The movie wouldn’t let you grieve bc they didn’t grieve.

I definitely have felt the pressure to not cry as a man or show excessive displays of emotion. I went to see this movie with my fiancé and at the climax when Kevin finds his dead brother and imagines them all reuniting, I broke out into sobbing tears. Even though this movie wrecked me, I thought it was so beautiful and recommended it to everyone I talked to, proudly telling them how it made me weep.

I watched this movie five times since it came on HBOMAX. This movie was an emotional roller coaster and really deserved more recognition. Zac Efron did such a great job he fully immersed himself into this character. I recommended this movie to others.

This movie should have gotten a Oscar or been in the nominations. Great movie. I was in the movies trying so hard to hold my tears in 😂😂😂

damn you’re so spot on about the restraint aspect. In a way I feel like the film kinda teaches you how to repress as you follow kevin and all the ways he removes himself. Like him, you expect more shoes to drop and know how to react accordingly, as was so lovingly taught by his father. However, that doesn’t account for the immense weight of each “shoe” and how that weight will refuse to let up as long as it is not acknowledged. Like I really thought I was gonna make it through the whole thing without even a single tear, kind of unconsciously internalizing fritz’s philosophy, but seeing kevin let himself shed some of that weight, actually allowing himself to feel how crushing each loss was, reminded me that I could do the same and that’s when I absolutely lost it

As someone who had the "men don't cry" mindset drilled into me at a young age, I couldn't agree more and this film hit me hard. I didn't shed a single tear at my mom's funeral for fear of appearing weak, so that "everyone cries" had me balling like a baby.

I hated that most of the interviews people were only asking questions about their body transformations instead of the story itself

This is such a great way to explain it. You’re completely right, the repression makes the emotional climax so much more intense.

You can tell when Kevin's kids tell him that everyone cries how relieved he feels. He was probably waiting his entire life for someone to tell him that its okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to be human.

This movie makes me emotional cause it brings back memories of my older cousin who was more my older brother than anything. Him and my other cousin were big wrestling fans. So when my older cousin died almost 5 years ago, we put over his grave a WWE champion belt. He died at age 33… he didn’t get to meet my kids. I still have my other cousin whom I love just as much, but losing my cousin was the closest to losing a brother. Zach Efron deserved more for this and well the movie in general.

this movie was so beautifully made it made me sob like a baby :( just the thought of ever losing my siblings is enough to make me weep

The Iron Claw was my favorite 2023 film, even though I watched tons, and you expertly put into words why I related to so much off this film so strongly I cried in a cinema for the first time ever. The restraint it shows somehow making the film more grounded and real feeling, putting you uncomfortably close to the situations Eric is in but still far enough away that you feel like you're dissociating with him. The funeral scenes in particular hit home for feeling dead on to some personal experiences and the way I remember those days. As someone with horrendous family luck (not this bad but so bad that we do get joked about being cursed), it really hit home. Thanks for this video essay the 20 minutes flew by. Gonna be re-watching this tons.

this movie didn’t get talked about nearly enough, amazing video u really made some points I didn’t think about before!!!

This essay takes me back to your Nope essay. Beautifully put together. love love love

It tackles mens mental health and how extreme and suppressive it is seeing as at the end zac is allowed to cry but still feels embarrassed about it such a beautiful film

I admire how you are able to put how this movie works and makes you feel into words. My favorite movie of last year!

I watched it last night and I just cannot stop feeling the movie. I cried and then I cried again just now at a damn cafe lol

So excited that you talked about Iron Claw. I loved that movie - so heartbreaking and beautifully wrought, as is your essay!

NO FRRR!!!! Tremendously well done movie that displays male mental health in an authentic and gracious light

This film had me and the boys in tears.

The whole movie made me very emotional and the end even made me tear up a little. I am very close with my brother so all of the brotherly themes and tragedies really got to me. The part that got me the most was the end when the kids say that they’ll be their dad’s brother. I had the same thing happen when I was a kid with my dad who lost his brother when he was 19. My dad saw me and my brother playing and started crying saying that it reminds him of when he was little and had a brother and he said that we are his brothers now. My brothers middle name is the name of my uncle and who passed and my middle name is my dads. I never really got it until now that we are my dad and his brother together again. This is a great movie and deserves all the praise it gets.

This was beautiful. This movie was my favorite of 2023. As a new father, hearing my childs voice right after the film caused a breakdown in my car. Thank you for examining this film, and I hope it encourages more people to see it.

I didn’t understand the magical realism moment.I didn’t think of it as Kevin hoping for that for all his brothers. Thank you for allowing me to look at this scene differently.

I am crying again just watching this video essay and reliving the movie. It’s funny because I held back my tears in the theatre for the most part and sobbed in the car after. You’ve perfectly illustrated here what watching the movie is like and it makes me appreciate the craft of it so much more.

Knowing a good majority about the family and their tragic past, I was still caught off guard with the emotional moments. Everyone was fantastic

Ohh good point about the intro to the movie being like a mission statement for the rest of the movie. I didn’t even think of that. It changes everything for me

Your video essays are so beautifully put together with so much effort, genuine insight and thought it’s such a pleasure to watch.

I dealt with death and suicide in my family and personal myself, i had no clue what my wife and I were getting into when we watched this film, this movie triggered me so hard, lets just say it was a bad night at home. This was a good film and shows the heart aches behind an entire family, this movie is a must watch.

Incredibly insightful analysis , masculinity in this film was hard to watch for me because of what the father did to his family psychologically and emotionally, well done keep it up’ !

I watched the iron claw with my dad 2 days after his sister past it was the first time I saw him tear up

I loved it too, I watched it with my husband who loves pro wrestling and We also saw the Vice episode on the VonErichs Dark Side of the Ring, but so was so glad we watched it together because he is a fatherless male Gen Xer and first generation immigrant. So talk about men don’t cry! I found it very cathartic

I watched on the plane and didn’t expect those outcomes… definitely had me depressed

i haven't even seen the film and just watching your explanation of the end and at the the end there; I cried my eyes out xD

Excellent analysis! Especially on the structure. I loved this movie just as much as you did 😊

What a beautiful analysis.

This movie emotionally wrecked me in a way I wasn’t expecting. I watched it with my wife and daughter. They both know that I’m a crier with any movie that focuses on family. I knew the story going in, but the scene at the end with Jack Jr pushed me to a place I never expected. I’ve never dealt where tragedy like that, but it hit me so hard I had to leave the room. I don’t know that’ll I’ll watch it again, but it is a great movie.

I had the amazing experience of watching this on a Tuesday afternoon following the opening weekend. The theater was empty and I was all by myself, and when I heard the gunshot with KerryI just broke down sobbing uncontrollably in the theater and continued sobbing up until the end of the credits. For reference, the last time I cried from a place of intense emotion was like a year and half before this film came out, but this film had that profound of an impact on me. I wanted to thank you for helping me put a finger on just what led up to that release of emotion both in the film and in myself. I think I’m going to be thinking about the impact of “restraint” for a while. Amazing video!!

Great commentary. This movie really surprised me, and your analysis really paints the picture as to why. I still carry the movie with me. Fantastic work.

just commenting something cause I love this channel and wish it was bigger - ur killing it girl

The ending when he’s crying seeing his kids play football made me shed some tears and actually felt his pain.

When I saw The Iron Claw, I ducked out to use the bathroom right after the scene with David throwing up in the bathroom, made a joking tweet about how the things seem to be looking up for these Von Ericks, and came back to find David had died offscreen in the few minutes I was gone, and that just about sums up the emotional pacing of this movie.

this video is amazing!!! your writing and editing is superb!! thank you for making such a great video about this film, it feels like you were able to perfectly articulate the beauty in this film

What a great analysis! It made me tear up by the end!

i love how you make me interested in movies i usually would not care about. first sleep away camp now this

I went into this movie with full knowledge of the history and story of the Von Erich family. I'd heard blurbs, watched some of their matches, and even heard quotes from the family including *that* quote from Kevin. I still left the movie a complete mess and in tears. It's such a shame that it came out so late and wasn't that widely marketed because I thought that Efron deserved a Best Actor nod at the Oscars. It's genuinely one of the most well made sports movies of all time

Zac Efron should have at least won best actor.

Thank you for your essay!!

When I say I broke down at the end of this movie I mean I BROKE DOWN 😭. It was tears of joy I don’t know this family so to find out that the “curse” did not get him and he is still alive and married with 13 grandchildren my goodness I don’t think I have ever cried so much at a movie in my life. I’m also pregnant so I’m sure that played a part as well.

This was amazing to watch.

Awesome breakdown. This is the first video I’ve seen of yours and I look forward to checking out others.

First of all, I don't know how the algorithm hasn't scooped you up and thrown a few hundred thousand subs at you yet, your videos are so well crafted and thoughtful. And secondly, as a big crier myself, I have to admit that I broke down at the brother's reunion scene with Jacky, but the final scene had my best friend and I both ugly crying.

This is a fucking great break down of this film. It felt different and i couldnt really figure out why until i listened to this

I really loved your analysis on this! Especially the great visualization/explanation of the differences between the typical biopic and Iron Claw.

This was a great analysis. Thanks!

Beautiful video essay. I learned so many things from your analysis. Made some notes as well. Thank you for making this.

Love your vids, keep up the good work

im in love with this channel now

Great commentary, I haven’t seen the film but even watching this video makes me heartbroken, I didn’t know any about the real story but see the topics in the film been managed in a very introspective manner without missing any context about the real story makes me feel like this would be the best biopic

I came to this movie not knowing a thing about the Von Erich’s. I thought I biopic was just going to have your average wrestler crazy star life style. I was surprised like you that the scenes weren’t hitting me all while being a brother of 3. But when the last scene came my god did the waterworks hit. I stayed until the end credit head down because I didn’t want people seeing me that messed up. As soon as I got in my car I called my oldest brother and just told him how much I loved him and appreciated all he’s done.

This is one of the best essays / analysis surrounding this wonderful film! It was such a snub from the Oscars

I also missed a lot of movies in 2023, but im glad i saw this one in theaters

great analysis of a great movie! excellent work

This was such an intelligent and well articulated analysis of this film. Thank you for this

I find most biopics boring but this was one of the few that had me interested the entire time. The chemistry between the actors was so cool to see. It legit felt like these people were a family.

Your analysis was amazing dude, instant sub!

Loved this movie. This analysis was beautiful

Excellent video. Informative concise and interpretative

Great video!

Brilliant synopsis...Keep striving...Keep enlightening!

You are amazing! I couldn’t put my finger on it, but you encapsulated everything I was thinking perfectly

great video, I subbed! also only watching this movie once was enough it had such an intense impact on me emotionally.

this is so quality, how is this creator not more popular

*trigger warning* After the passing of my aunt by her own unaliving, and before that the passing of my dad by cancer.. I found myself unable to cry or feel anything, when thinking of it.. then it became in general with my emotions (like I'm blocked.. but it feels more like an adrupt cut, there's the build up but no release) like I can't be present with the reality.. At first I felt shame and disgust with myself, to not feel anything, like how can you say that you loved them, shouldn't I be crying?.. when I first heard the news of my aunt I was at work .. and my boss wanted me to continue working (this is patriarchy).. don't know why, but I tried first.. then i took the day off after a minute.. but I feel like this fucked me up.. I didn't have a safe space to express my emotion.. and at that point didn't have a lot of friends I could trust because I kept putting an emotional barrier to portecting me from getting hurt I guess, but the result is I didn't have nobody, not even a safe space at home because of a living condition with my roomates.. I remember one time after showering I burst into ugly tears, this was months after her passing, and even there I restrained myself because I didn't want my roomates to hear me.. but as work on myself, go to therapy, face the darker parts of myself, I connect more and more with my emotion, found better solution for myself.. I cry a bit more day by day as I creating the safe space my emotion deserve to be released and felt. take care of yourselves y'all.

Massive thanks

Such a good dissection of this film, really made me want to rewatch it once it comes out on streaming. This video is so well put together btw, you make me wish I actually knew how to do motion graphics 😭

I'm not sure I could watch this movie... but I'm grateful you took the time to analyze it and share your thoughts.

beautiful movie and great video!

So glad you're highlighting this one. It probably went under the radar for general audiences with such a stacked movie year and people likely thinking it's a standard sports biopic. I enjoy how eclectic your interests are! The greatest flaw is the casting for Ric Flair. I'm sure the guy was doing his best, but, for how well they nail so much else in the film, he stands out pointedly as a flop. Hard to portray someone so larger-than-life so kind of a bad beat for the actor.

WOW AWESOME JOB

love this

this was an excellent review 👏 following

This video made me cry!! Subscribed. About to watch your video about Nope, one of my favorite movies.

Fantastic video. This is one of the only films that have made me cried.

Great video.

I've watched the ironclaw twice once in the movies and once at home with my wife. Both times I've ended up breaking down and crying. I love wrestling I'm 35 years old I've been watching it pretty much my entire life. Needless to say I've got some personal baggage tied up into this somehow that connects right in my feels. But when Kevin's sons go up to him at the end and say we'll be your brother's dad gets me every single time. Really is a great movie but a depressing movie I don't think I'll watch anytime soon again

The ending scene was beautiful but the scene where Doris didn't want to put on the funeral dress because she's already worn it to the funerals of multiple sons completely destroyed me. No one has given Maura Tierney enough credit for this movie, i wish she got some supporting actress nods because its one of my favorite supporting performances in years. Such a subtle and really heartbreaking performance. Also i love your perspective on the film. I was discussing it with a friend saying i felt the 2nd half was rushed and that it really could have been a mini series but i think the way you've broken it down has really turned my opinion around. I like that it didn't force emotional kind of "oscar baity" scenes and the structure of the film really served to avoid that. I never felt manipulated.

You definitely gained a fan today🎉

How in the hell are you just at 6K subscribers? This is one of best written and structured video essays I've seen in YT in a long time. Keep up the great work. 💯

Great video