Challengers: Sexy, Stylish, and Smashed by Flashbacks

Challengers is not your typical sports drama. Luca Guadagnino’s take on love, ambition, and the brutal competitiveness of professional tennis is as stylish as it is emotionally raw. From the opening shot, it’s clear this is a director with a vision — and he’s fully committed to making every match, glance, and touch simmer with intensity.

Zendaya owns the role of Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach, manipulating the two men who orbit her like moths to a flame. Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor are equally excellent, giving layered performances that explore ego, resentment, and desire. Their tangled relationship is messy, ugly, and magnetic — exactly what this story demands.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's score deserves a special shout-out. Their electronic beats pulse through every scene, amplifying the sexual tension, emotional anguish, and the high-stakes brutality of the matches. It's an exhilarating blend of sound and movement.

Unfortunately, the movie’s biggest flaw is its reliance on constant flashbacks. Just when a scene builds enough tension to hook you, the film jerks backward in time, breaking the flow. While the nonlinear storytelling adds complexity, it often feels excessive, robbing certain emotional beats of their full impact.

Additionally, some sequences drag on longer than necessary. Though beautifully shot, these moments occasionally tested my patience, making the film feel longer than its runtime.

Despite these hiccups, Challengers remains a captivating, uniquely crafted sports drama. It’s not just about tennis; it’s about the games people play off the court, too — and nobody plays them better (or worse) than Tashi, Art, and Patrick.