Challengers

Challengers is this summer’s box office hit, and rightfully so. It’s hot, it’s sexy, and it’s exhilarating. Luca Guadgnino displays nothing but incredible and revolutionary direction in what could be labelled as “another tennis movie”. Guadgnino, paired with the flawless performances from the cast Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist, mixed with the score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross creates delectable cinema.

Zendaya in her first leading theatrical release film role drives the subject to success. A strong and captivating performance that heightens co-stars performances by O’Connor and Faist. Making the male leads consuming love and admiration for Zendaya’s Tashi all too believable and understandable.

The adrenalin surge you feel throughout the entire feature will leave you craving to re-live it all over again in an instant. Upon rewatching the film your perspective and original conclusions will change as each watch brings something else deeper to the surface for each of the main trio. Your mind will be reeling and sleep will be far from your mind at night.

You will want to hate the characters, but Tashi’s calculated and controlling nature with Patrick’s (O’Connor’s) egotistical and arrogant personality, coupled with the pathetic and submissive Art (Faist) makes them all the more endearing and fascinating to watch. That develops into a love to watch these three people make everything, including tennis about their relationships but sex, which is about tennis of course.

Challengers, dir. Luca Guadagnino

Release: 26 April 2024

Lara Edwards.