My ‘Iron Claw’ therapy session

Upon returning home from watching The Iron Claw yesterday, Gillian asked me, so how was it? And I answered, perhaps in poor taste, I might need to watch Oppenheimer again to lighten the mood.

I would not describe The Iron Claw as a happy film. There’s not a whole lot in the two hours and thirteen minutes that feels good to see, albeit there are moments that hit like pure adrenaline or a long coming home. But this movie is a wrecking ball.

Here are some thoughts and reactions:

1. A lone bright spot in the film is the relationship between Kevin Von Erich (Zac Effron) and Pam Adkisson (Lily James), but during their first date scene, I texted Gillian: Think I’m going to cry a lot. The reason for that is because Pam makes a lighthearted joke that prompts Erich into deadpanning that actually he’s not the oldest brother in the family because the oldest brother died. That kind of stuff always impacts me because I harbor a lot of feelings related to being an older sibling who technically isn’t the oldest sibling. I also don’t like talking about it much.
2. The most intense scene in the film isn’t even one where either a death or potentially debilitating injury takes place. The scene is just full of pain and painful to watch. The scene is also about getting back up and facing one’s demons, only to embrace them once more for more…