Plainclothes
is a marvel of filmmaking and a solid entry into the LGBTQ+ movie canon. Writer-director Carmen Emmi skillfully handles the development of a well-paced and incredibly nerve-racking plot. The thriller doubles as a romance, but it’s not at all what you might expect. Led by an outstanding Tom Blyth, who should already be on everyone’s radar after portraying Coriolanus Snow in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Plainclothes is a multidimensional romantic thriller that is worth analyzing from every angle. It’s gripping, engaging, and not straightforward in its complexities, which I greatly appreciate.

Set in 1997, Blyth plays Lucas, an undercover cop tasked with luring and arresting gay men at the mall. He’s good at his job, perceptive and magnetic. But what his coworkers don’t know is that Lucas is gay himself, something he is still coming to terms with, and only his ex-girlfriend (Amy Forsyth) knows. Lucas is already conflicted about his job, but everything truly changes when he meets Andrew (Russell Tovey), initially a target. The pair’s romance escalates things for Lucas, touching everything from his work life to his home life, as he struggles with what to do.

Tom Blyth’s Layered, Anxious Performance Is Everything

Tom Blyth is incredible in the role. He portrays Lucas as a ball of anxious energy who’s always paranoid and thinking about what would happen if his mom, or anyone else for that matter, found out he was gay. It’s heartbreaking and stressful to watch as he comes apart, growing more and more anxious and conflicted by the minute. Blyth is a nuanced performer who conveys so much with his eyes and body language. His eyes are constantly flicking back and forth, watching others with sharp, suspicious eyes. This trait changes as Lucas grows erratic and he can no longer trust what he sees.

Yet his eyes get soft with Andrew. Lucas is still hesitant but slowly lets him in. The differences between an on-edge, nearly hyperventilating Lucas to being tender with Andrew is a testament to Blyth’s acting skills. I was torn between being terrified for Lucas and wanting to hug him. He goes through so much and Emmi captures the intensity and panic of hiding and worrying about coming out to a family that may not be receptive to it. That Lucas is an undercover cop luring gay men to bathrooms to arrest them for indecent exposure heightens his conflict and inner turmoil.

Emmi’s use of close-ups and interspersing VHS footage as a stand-in for Lucas’ memory and perspective works visually, which is complemented by exceptional sound design and editing. The latter is particularly exceptional, growing to a crescendo that’s timed to Lucas’ slow-burn unraveling. It makes for an intricately crafted romantic thriller that is brimming with intoxicating longing, fear, and tension that never lets up. By the final scene, which could be read as both terrifying and hopeful, Plainclothes instantly became a film I wanted to rewatch.

Plainclothes Is More Than A Romantic Thriller

It’s A Story About Consequences & Idenтιтy

It’s difficult to balance character depth, personal stakes, and a dash of romance, but Emmi does it with confidence. Every angle, every look from Blyth, and every moment is delicately and exhilaratingly crafted. It’s a film capable of moving you emotionally and captivating you on a story level. There’s so much detail built into the story that it needs a second and even third watch. Lucas’ yearning, feelings of peril, and psychological spiral are all well-crafted, balancing the worry of being caught with the excitement of an escalating plot that grows until both us and Lucas can’t take it any longer.

There are so many layers waiting to be analyzed in Plainclothes. It explores Lucas’ desires and the danger that comes with it. I really felt the weight of the stakes at every turn. If Lucas tells his mom, he worries he’ll lose her love, but if he keeps being gay a secret it will ruin him mentally and emotionally. Who is Lucas if he isn’t the son his mother (Maria Dizzia) wants him to be? Who is Lucas if he’s not a good employee and struggles with his work ᴀssignments?

Idenтιтy plays a crucial role in the narrative and even reckons with the effects of toxic masculinity and homophobia — in Lucas’ personal life (via his uncle, played by Gabe Fazio) and at his job. But while the tension and anxiety drive the story, Plainclothes is also Sєxy and gentle. Emmi makes room for desire, pining, and the joy of getting to know someone romantically. This is thanks to Lucas’ relationship with Andrew, which is compᴀssionate and intense, earnest and exciting. Tovey and Blyth have excellent chemistry together and I rooted for them amid the obstacles of their budding romance.

Plainclothes’ synopsis told me all I needed to know about the movie, yet I was still unprepared for its level of intensity. Watching the film felt like I was holding my breath the entire time and was only able to release it in the final scene. It’s one of the best thrillers I’ve seen recently. Consequences, choices, love, idenтιтy, and paranoia are all at the center of this mesmerizing thriller. Suffice it to say, Emmi’s feature debut (and what a debut!) will stay with me for a long time.

Plainclothes premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.