Film Review: Challengers – The Knockturnal

5

Get ready for the “battle of the exes!”

The trailers, and even the official plot summary for Challengers is weirdly vague compared to what happens in the film. Even the official descriptions of the plot leave many desired details to be filled.

Guadagnino’s approach to the material manages to avoid the traps that many films regarding a love triangle fall into,  the main one being the annoyance. The film gives audiences just enough on the surface to most of Guadagnino’s filmography showcases his style of capturing the personal ambitions of young people, whether they are romantic or professional, and there is a striking balance between the two with Challengers.

The plot itself pretty much reads like a modern day adapation of William Shakespeare’s Lady Mcbeth.

Zendaya has spent the past decade laying down the foundation for her acting career, from her humble beginnings on the Disney channel to becoming a critical darling. Challengers shows that she is more than capable of being able to lead a high profile motion picture. She is intense, physical, cunning , and determined in her role as Tashi Duncan, and does not lose one ounce of steam from beginning to end.

What is nice about the film is how it manages to keep the viewer engaged. Even those who do not fancy films about love triangles will find themselves to be hypnotzed by the intense and entrapping

For all of the interesting aspects that this film has going for it, there are certain moments towards the end that feel padded out. With the stakes clearly established,

Could the characters of Challengers have had more depth? Sure. The elements that do make it work minute the flaws to make possibly one of the strongest films of the year so far. It may look like an innocent flower, but it be the serpent under it.