Challengers review: Steamy Zendaya movie is this years Saltburn

Running time: 131 minutes.Rated R (language throughout, some sexual content and graphic nudity).

In theaters.When the movie “Challengers” hits Prime Video after its theatrical run, I suspect the response will echo that of last year’s most controversial film, “Saltburn.”Like Emerald Fennell’s shapeshifting mystery, “Challengers” is, at once, artful, addictive and deceptive.The salivating viewer believes it’s one thing, becomes sure it’s another and then leaves with a different theory altogether.There are more similarities.

Directed by Luca Guadagnino (“Call Me By Your Name”), the movie features sexy, young stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist in various states of undress, and their characters’ open ending will either intrigue or infuriate you.Love “Challengers” or loathe it — and I look forward to the angry emails from the latter camp — you’ll definitely want to talk about it.And isn’t that half the fun?The delish and devilish film, which jumps erratically back and forth through 13 years of events, tracks a trio of hotshot junior tennis players on the verge of going pro.

 There are best friends, and doubles partners, Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Faist) — truly inspired fake tennis names — and the force of nature Tashi Duncan (Zendaya).Despite being a teen with no grand slam titles, Tashi has heaps of high-profile endorsements, and it’s widely assumed she’ll be the sport’s next big thing.Think Coco Gauff a few years back.The boys, competitive in more ways than one, lustily chase after the phenom, and later that night in their hotel room she seductively poses a challenge: The player who wins the men’s final gets her number.Their scandalous story isn’t told linearly, though.

More than a decade in the future, down-on-his-luck Patrick is sleeping in his car and playing small challenger tournaments to squeeze out a buck to buy dinner.A devastating injury killed Tashi’s career, while unas...