Making a good erotic thriller out on Wall Street is no easy feat, but Fair Play has just the right ratio of wit, sex, and sleaze to spice up a Friday night viewing. There’s also undeniable pleasure in watching a fairytale love story corrode, especially under the influence of money and power—here’s one for the romantic capitalists! And even if the script feels a bit uneven and Emily’s character a bit too silent until the film’s third act, it’s a heightened yet realistic depiction of exactly how solidified heteronormative standards still are: in bed, at home, at the workplace. Who would have guessed that’s where the true horror lies?
"[A] steamy, razor-wired, barking-mad movie..."
— Ryan Lattanzio
"[Domont's] thrilling mastery of slow-burn tension, insightful examination of power dynamics in business and personal relationships, and creation of exceptional performances prove Domont to be a director with a singular voice."
— Marya E. Gates
An unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund pushes a young couple's relationship to the brink, threatening to unravel not only their recent engagement but their lives.
Just after their secret engagement, a juicy promotion endangers the budding love of two stock analysts: Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich).
With a solid TV background, first-time feature director Chloe Domont knows how to draw the audience in. The way she builds tension with the most minimal devices, utilizing the already-strained dynamics of a hedge fund company and a rich arsenal of quips, is immensely pleasurable. Even when the financial jargon overflows, the tingle of knowing any wrong move can cost millions of dollars in the blink of an eye fuels the metaphorical fire on screen. And with leads such as doe-eyed Phoebe Dynevor and smirky Alden Ehrenreich, there's no danger of things cooling down. On the contrary, their chemistry is combustible throughout.
Who knew a hedge fund love story will make a great horror film?
