Chloe Domont’s sensual directorial debut begins with the reassuring impression of true love. After getting drunk at a party, Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) find themselves in a bathroom together when something unexpected drops out of Luke’s pocket: an engagement ring. Once Emily’s initial shock and hesitation wear off, she says yes.

What the audience quickly learns when watching Fair Play, however, is that both Emily and Luke must keep their relationship a secret at the Wall Street firm they both work at. Being an analyst at a top financial firm is what both characters have been working toward their entire lives, making the choice never to be seen together a necessary sacrifice in their eyes. When Emily gets promoted to project manager, a game of control, ethics, and jealousy begins as she faces increasing barriers to succeed in a male-dominated industry.

Told with the slowly boiling tension of a Brian De Palma film but with the sharp critique of workplace culture similar to shows like Industry (2020-present) and Succession (2018-2023), Domont’s directorial debut is riveting to watch. Her knack for capturing every detail of this suffocating and soul-sucking environment is commendable from the first ten minutes. Domont’s zestful, timely, and sexy thriller effectively depicts the cold and cutthroat nature of the corporate world — especially for women.

Emily quickly realizes that no matter how much she proves herself and how many right calls she makes, there will always be people around her claiming she only made it because she slept with her boss. Of course, none of her male colleagues get the same treatment when promoted. This never-ending and rampant cycle of Emily having to constantly prove herself to the people around her, giving up evenings left and right for work, pushes her to her limits.

Watching Emily rise to the ranks is exhilarating, but the fear that her success will be toppled overnight always lingers in the back of the viewer’s head. The cat-and-mouse game that Emily and Luke play with each other is the most dynamic part of the story, turning their relationship that initially anchors their journey into a major liability. Through this plotline, Domont explores how even the most happy relationships can be thwarted when work consumes an individual.

The chemistry between Emily and Luke is impressively brought to life by both actors. Ehrenreich is having a great year, and that trajectory continues with his best performance since his breakthrough turn in Hail, Caesar! (2016). Initially, both Emily and Luke are quite sympathetic characters, but as the story progresses, Luke becomes increasingly unlikable to the point of pure disgust. Ehrenreich plays into Luke’s mindset and psyche in a manner that’s fascinating to watch. Dynevor is also terrific, conveying the subtle ways that Emily gets emotionally distraught by her treatment in the work environment. However, she also plays into the power that Emily harnesses throughout as she finds her own strength within the game she’s been forced to play. 

With such a strong set-up, it’s unfortunate that the third act doesn’t live up to what came prior. The momentum built throughout the much more calculated and tightly crafted first two acts dwindles into something simultaneously brutal and absurd. Domont takes the story in a Fatal Attraction-like direction that feels silly, over-the-top, and not in line with what came before it. The ending leaves the viewer with a slight tinge of satisfaction, but it’s simply too much of a left turn to make the intended impact.

Despite its weak finish, Fair Play has all the signs of being a hit for Netflix. The film has enough on its mind to provoke discussions after it’s finished while also being entertaining and incredibly well-paced all the way through. Despite the script’s flaws, Domont is, without a doubt, a filmmaker to keep an eye out for.

Review Courtesy of Matt Minton

Feature Image Credit to Netflix via Variety