‘Plainclothes’ (2025)

‘Plainclothes’ follows young undercover police officer Lucas (Tom Blyth) who works to entrap and arrest gay men. Defying his professional commitments, Lucas is forced to confront his nature once he crosses paths with Andrew (Russell Tovey), one of his targets.

Carrying out his vice duties, Lucas stakes out at a mall, trying to pick up gay men and lead them to a nearby bathroom. After the men have exposed themselves to him, Lucas signals to his partner to arrest the men.

One day Lucas meets Andrew on the job. Instead of executing his usual trap, Lucas stalls. Confronting Andrew and his own desires, Lucas kisses Andrew and leaves, choosing not to signal to his partner to arrest Andrew. Andrew then hands Lucas his phone number, provoking excitement in Lucas and a curiosity to take things further. The two then decide to meet up, with Lucas exploring his sexuality for the first time in his life.

Heartbreaking and bittersweet, ‘Plainclothes’ examines two gay men in very different times in their lives. Both deeply anxious about their sexuality, the two exist at different stages and with very different commitments. Where Andrew has resigned himself to living out the life he has constructed, married and with two children, he encourages Lucas to stop hiding and be honest about who he is.

Periodically revisiting Lucas’ anxiety, the film focuses a lot on the double life that Lucas leads. Portrayed sublimely by Blyth, his character contains hidden layers, all an amalgam of his upbringing, the surrounding environment and his own hang-ups.

Working as a police officer who entraps other gay men, Blyth’s anxiety, fear and guilt end up consuming him, resulting in ultimately leaving the force. Desperately grasping at what little opportunity he believes he can see in Tovey’s Andrew, the young man chooses to look him up, resulting in a heartbreaking severance.

The chemistry between Blyth and Tovey is what makes the film work as a story of self-discovery and an interpersonal drama. Obviously the film ramps up and delivers a handful of nail-biting scenes when it comes to Lucas’ police work, but the core of the film lies in the connection between the two men. Besides the emotional whirlwind drama, it feels like Emmi could have produced a tense and unsettling thriller had he chosen to lean that way.

With Lucas completely inexperienced and Andrew more familiar with casual meet-ups, the young man is overwhelmed with emotions once he is exposed to exploring his needs and wants. Not so much taking advantage of Lucas, but maybe not being entirely upfront initially about how far he is willing to let things go, Andrew is kind and gentle with Lucas, with the two delivering honest and intimate portrayals of connection, passion and affection.

Unwilling, but maybe more importantly unable to, Russell Tovey’s Andrew tries to console Tom Blyth’s Lucas as the latter tracks him down and learns that Andrew is a reverend with a family. With the two reconciling after Lucas has left his job and has been ghosted by Andrew, the film paints clearly the stark contrast between the two men.

Where Andrew has spent his life hiding and ashamed of who he is, and as a result has built a life around him, he suggests Lucas still has a chance to lead a life true to himself. Echoing the sentiment later in a letter, Andrew encourages the young man to live a life true to himself, whilst acknowledging that he has to take care of his family, and encourage his young sons to recognise, appreciate and express who they are.

Making a lot of use of ‘home movie footage’ style shots, writer and director Carmen Emmi delivers a specific aesthetic and worn quality to the feature. At times referencing the time period that the characters find themselves in, at others using the footage as Lucas’ memories of his childhood, the film style may feel a little overused at times, but does function effectively at the start to either highlight a more prominent or significant core memory or something that weights heavy on Lucas in the present.

Tragic and heartbreaking, Emmi delivers a love story that was never meant to be, as one man’s journey of self-discovery and acknowledgement turns his life upside-down. In trying to hide and deny his true nature, Lucas soon learns that the feelings that he has will come out and the longer he tries to hide this from himself, the more pain and anguish it will cause. A prime example of a coming out story, ‘Plainclothes’ lays everything bare and does not shy away from the painful details of being oppressed in one’s own mind and body.

Score: 4/4