In Fair Play, Emily (Phoebe Dynevor of Netflix’s Bridgerton) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich of Solo: A Star Wars Story and Cocaine Bear) are financial analysts who are discreetly dating but individually on the offence at the workplace.  The hedge fund they work for is highly competitive, but unprofessional when dealing with internal matters.  An open promotion heard through the grapevine makes everyone more sharp and vicious, but it’s Emily who is eyed for the position.  Causing a conflict in their relationship, Luke tries to ignore his jealously, but finds himself gravitating more towards resources that, he thinks, will reassure his masculinity.  Emily, meanwhile, tries to keep her head above water in a workplace that has become more tough and patronizing towards her.

Writer/director Chloe Domont, making her feature debut after cutting her teeth with short films and directing television, treats Fair Play as a sophisticated stage play but doesn’t draw attention to any stagey or soapy theatrics.  The tense confrontations that take place in tight, transparent spaces compel the audience, along with the filmmaker’s ability to approach topical material in unpredictable ways.  Domont uses gender politics as a discussion point but also, with the help of her lead actors, uses the subjects to stack on different layers in an already complicated relationship.

Dynevor and Ehrenreich, in a stroke of great casting, are a stellar match.  Their passion is never not seen – either through their fiery romantic chemistry or their seething anger towards each other.  As disturbing and triggering as the last act gets, Fair Pair perfectly bookends this central vehement relationship.

Netflix, the streaming service that seems like its always running the gamut on melodramas, finally offers the erotic dramatic thriller mature audiences have been waiting for.  365 Days this is not.

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie