One of the consequences of awards season is that films that don’t end up playing a significant role within the main ceremonies can easily be forgotten, regardless of the buzz that they may have initially received. Fair Play received rave reviews when it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2023, but those positive responses didn’t translate into viewership spikes when it hit Netflix later that year; amidst a crowded awards season in which Netflix was also promoting Maestro, Rustin, The Killer, and Leave the World Behind, Fair Play failed to make a significant impact. It was an unfortunate casualty, as writer/director Chloe Domont made one of the most original, thought-provoking erotic thrillers in recent memory.

Although there was certainly a generation in which erotic dramas like Basic Instinct and Eyes Wide Shut were able to be commercial hits, the genre has seemingly disappeared from the modern cinematic ecosystem. However, Fair Play was not a nostalgic throwback to a previous era, as Domont confronted modern gender dynamics and explored the perils of an intensive capitalistic system. Fair Play is a captivating yet emotional thriller about the collapse of a relationship and features brilliant performances from two young, exciting actors.

What Is ‘Fair Play’ About?

Fair Play follows two analysts who work at a powerful Manhattan hedge fund and have managed to keep their romantic relationship a secret. Luke Edmunds (Alden Ehrenreich) proposes to Emily Meyers (Phoebe Dynevor), as he suspects that he will be given a promotion after their employer’s portfolio manager is unexpectedly let go. However, Emily is informed by Campbell (Eddie Marsan), the firm’s CEO, that she will actually be receiving the promotion, which takes both her and Luke off guard. While Luke is initially excited on Emily’s behalf, he is consumed with jealousy and begins obsessively working on an online leadership training course that will teach him how to rise within the ranks. Although Luke struggles to engage in a relationship in which he is not the “provider,” Emily faces challenges of her own as she works with Campbell and the senior executive Paul (Rich Sommer). Her eye for economic trends may be unparalleled, but Emily fears that she does not have the aggressive tendencies that are required to advance any further within her profession.

Fair Play is a fascinating examination of power dynamics, as both Luke and Emily are trying to make decisions as employees that will benefit the health of the overall company, even if they also seek personal glory; at the same time, they are working towards a balanced relationship, even if they recognize that success could threaten the affection that they feel for one another. Luke was willing to respect Emily when it was clear that they were both underdogs trying to get ahead, but he finds it hard to feel the same way about her when she outranks him. Although his behavior becomes increasingly toxic, Luke is a tragic character who believes that his value as a person is determined by the degree of his professional success. Alternatively, Emily learns to reject the sexist rhetoric that suggests she should wait and let a male employee take credit for her achievements. After learning that Campbell and Paul need her more than she needs them, Emily is able to exert more confidence as she takes advantage of her prominence within the workplace.

‘Fair Play’ Is an Inventive Character Drama

Fair Play examines the inherent cruelty of a capitalist working environment, as Emily and Luke have accepted that the only way for them to stand out in the workplace is to usurp those that outrank them. Although Luke is genuinely passionate about market trends and has invested a majority of his time into improving his working habits, he tragically doesn’t have the same eye for patterns that Emily does; in some of the most tragic scenes, Emily learns from Campbell that none of the senior employers have any respect for Luke. The power struggle that takes shape between Emily and Luke is based on their unspoken understanding that they will not be able to survive in their relationship if they are also working for the same company. Although logic would suggest Luke should leave, as Emily has a brighter future ahead of her, his superiority complex prevents him from admitting defeat. What’s most powerful about Fair Play is that it still feels like Luke and Emily have feelings for one another; the chemistry between Ehrenreich and Dynevor is so strong that any bumps in their romance are more upsetting to watch.

The intimate scenes in Fair Play play an important role in advancing the plot, as Luke and Emily’s relationship is threatened when they no longer feel like equals. Ehrenreich and Dynevor do an excellent job at performing these physical scenes, as the film notes how a collapse of their emotional bond ends up making their intimate relationship more contentious. Even if Fair Play ends on a particularly shocking note, it serves as the only possible conclusion to a story about an unstable situation. Netflix may have failed to promote Fair Play in the manner that it deserved, but it’s a fearless thriller that tackles difficult questions about gender dynamics and ambition. While it’s unclear if it will single-handedly reignite interest in the erotic thriller genre, Fair Play is such an impressive achievement that it has at least built anticipation for whatever Domonot, Dynevor, and Ehrenreich do next.