Plainclothes
"Everyone has a secret."
Set in 1990s New York, Plainclothes follows a seasoned undercover officer who works undercover stings aimed at outed gay communities. His latest assignment is to entice and arrest men who meet in the city's nightscape. He expects a routine takedown, but the moment he crosses paths with one... Read more
Watch NowNot Currently Available On (8 platforms)
Streaming availability last verified: February 03, 2026
About Plainclothes
Set in 1990s New York, Plainclothes follows a seasoned undercover officer who works undercover stings aimed at outed gay communities. His latest assignment is to entice and arrest men who meet in the city's nightscape. He expects a routine takedown, but the moment he crosses paths with one target, a spark flares between them. As their private meetings grow more charged, the line between policeman and prey becomes blurred. The operative wrestles with growing attraction and the mounting pressure from higher ups who want results. The tension grows as loyalties collide, forcing him to weigh duty against desire, and to decide how far he will go to protect what he believes in. The city itself feels like a pressure chamber. Secrets linger behind dim club lights.
Directed by Carmen Emmi, Plainclothes is a 2025 drama thriller featuring Tom Blyth, Russell Tovey, Amy Forsyth, Maria Dizzia, and Christian Cooke, a restrained study of power and desire in a morally charged urban setting.
Box office details for Plainclothes have not been publicly released. The film's box office results remain undisclosed. The campaign of the film and its festival run have kept grosses private while distributors gauge market appetite. Early industry chatter emphasizes performance over numbers.
As of now there are no major nominations reported for Plainclothes. The cast and director have earned praise in early reviews for performances that carry the moral ambiguity of the story, with Blyth and Tovey singled out for nuanced, restrained work and Emmi praised for a measured intimate approach.
Reception and themes: Critics and audiences note the film's tense atmosphere and its exploration of power, loyalty, and desire under institutional pressure. The chemistry between Blyth and Tovey anchors a story that questions who benefits from undercover policing and what is sacrificed for duty. It carries 7.6/10 from 41 votes.
What Viewers Are Saying
Audiences zero in on a tense mood built around a policing crackdown on gay cruising, with Officer Lucas and Andrew crossing paths after a brutal crime in a mall. The retro look stands out— shot on film in a 4:3 ratio with interwoven footage that makes you feel watched from every angle. Cruising in public spaces, mirrors and tense gazes drive a mood of ambiguity rather than clear answers, leaving some viewers unsettled as it drifts between thriller and quiet study.
Details
- Release Date
- January 26, 2025
- Runtime
- 1h 37m
- User Ratings
- 56 votes
- Type
- Movie
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Crime
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Studio
- Lorton Entertainment +1 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Official Trailer
Cast
Tom Blyth
Lucas
Russell Tovey
Andrew
Amy Forsyth
Emily
Maria Dizzia
Marie
Christian Cooke
Ron
Gabe Fazio
Uncle Paul
John Bedford Lloyd
Lt. Sollars
Sam Asa Brownstein
Christian
Darius Fraser
Jeff
Alessandra Ford Balazs
Jessie
Director: Carmen Emmi