魔掌 is almost exclusively figurative — the controlling grip of someone evil (kidnappers, abusers, criminal organizations, oppressive regimes). The fixed frames are
落入魔掌 ('fall into the clutches of'),
逃出魔掌 ('escape the clutches of'), and
魔掌之下 ('under the clutches of'). Dramatic and journalistic — not used in casual conversation.
