Contrary to the suggestive trailers, "Challengers" offers a different kind of intensity, with minimal conventional sex scenes. Instead, the movie channels its energy into tennis's adrenaline-racing, seductive aspects, transforming the tennis match into a pulse-pounding, sensual experience.
The movie unfolds at a rapid pace, weaving a complex web of relationships between Tashi, Art, and Patrick— portrayed by Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, respectively. The narrative propels forward, with the camera darting urgently from character to character, mirroring the tension and confusion of their feelings. Every interaction between the main three characters is captured with a sense of urgency, drawing the audience deeper into their emotional turmoil.
The movie's unique score adds another layer of intensity. Unlike the typical movie score, the music in "Challengers" harks back to the energetic beats of 2000s house and techno. It punctuates the scenes with loud, unmistakable needle-drops, signaling to the viewer that they are in for a competitive, sexy ride. In "Challengers," competitive tennis is not just a sport; it's a lifestyle.
Director Luca Guadagnino has made a name for himself, largely through his visceral depictions of sex and desire. "Challengers" is no different.
Sex is rarely depicted, but "Challengers" is dripping with sexual tension— sometimes literally. Guadagnino often focuses on the intensely physical aspects of sex. This movie does so through its close-ups, which show every bead of sweat and every pore in its main characters.
Those close-ups also allow the actors to create a nuanced performance. Zendaya shines in this movie through her attention to detail. One of her most notable expressions is made in frustration, where one of her eyes twitched, and the other is wide open. This conveys Tashi's pure mania and how much it is seeping through.
Tashi's mania is a central aspect of the movie. It is her desire for success and competition that controls many other decisions throughout the film. The drive it creates constantly pulls people into her web, complicating their own lives and relationships.
If the movie has an ethos, it comes from Tashi. She says, "Tennis is a relationship." She speaks about the back-and-forth nature of a rally and the suspense and focus of players when true tennis is being played.
The relationships between the three main characters are determined on the court, as it is the only language they can truly speak. It is no accident that Tashi becoming Art’s coach is accompanied by the beginning of their sexual relationship, and when Patrick asks Tashi to be his coach it comes with the implication of sex.
Their relationships are tennis, and tennis is their relationship.