Write On: 'The Iron Claw' Writer/Director Sean Durkin

“I just really encourage people to truly go to those darker
places because the way forward in dealing with dark material is
not to do some partial version of it. Go there so that it sparks
a truth to people watching it because people want to be moved.
People want to see their experiences reflected in a new way back
at them. If you're drawn to it and it's meaningful to you,
chances are it's going to be meaningful to others. Stick with it
and be brave,” says writer/director Sean Durkin about exploring
the darker side of human nature on film.


Durkin’s new film is The Iron Claw, starring Zac Efron and Jeremy
Allen White as brothers from the real-life wrestling family, the
Von Erich Brothers, who are said to be cursed. Durkin talks about
his childhood obsession with wrestling, using the structure of a
Greek Tragedy to craft the screenplay and investigating American
masculinity through the lens of this one Texas family.


Just a warning: This podcast discusses suicide as it relates to
the characters in the film. If you or anyone you know is
struggling with suicidal thoughts or is in crisis, please call or
text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crises Lifeline.


To hear more about Durkin's journey of writing and directing The
Iron Claw, click to listen to the podcast.