Russell Tovey and Tom Blyth’s gay drama ‘Plainclothes’ receives critical praise

‘Plainclothes’ has premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and the reviews are in.

This romantic drama is set in 1990s New York City and features Tom Blyth (known for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) as Lucas, a working-class undercover officer assigned to entrap and arrest gay men. However, he finds himself drawn to one of his targets, Andrew, played by Russell Tovey from Looking.

The cast also includes Amy Forsyth, Christian Cooke, Maria Dizzia, John Bedford Lloyd, Gabe Fazio, and Sam Asa Brownstein. Directed by Carmen Emmi in her feature-length debut, she is also the writer of the screenplay.

At present, a global release date is yet to be confirmed. Only a few images and an exclusive short clip from IndieWire have been released. Despite this, several publications that attended Sundance have since shared their reviews, which are generally very positive, according to ‘Gay Times’.

Deadline noted that Plainclothes “takes a little while to find its feet” but praised the “smoldering chemistry” between Tovey and Blyth and the latter’s portrayal of a “young man wrestling with his identity.”

“Plainclothes is not strictly a coming-out movie but a relatable tale of infatuation and heartbreak, mostly conveyed with painfully raw emotion through these star-crossed lovers’ eyes,” they commented.

ScreenRant also celebrated Blyth’s “incredible” performance, stating he played 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,” they observed.

“Blyth is a nuanced performer who conveys a great deal with his eyes and body language. His eyes constantly flick back and forth, observing others with sharp, suspicious gazes. This trait changes as Lucas becomes erratic and can no longer trust what he sees.”

Additionally, ScreenRant highlighted the subject matter’s “intensity” and performances, comparing Plainclothes to “holding my breath the entire time, only able to exhale in the final scene.” The writer called it “one of the best thrillers I’ve seen recently,” pointing to themes of “consequences, choices, love, identity, and paranoia.”

The Playlist praised Tovey’s performance: “Tovey is perhaps the most unfiltered and raw we ever remember seeing him on screen. It’s a quick moment, but it’s a ‘wow’ one.”

Variety labeled Emmi’s “ultra-subjective multimedia approach” as “impressive,” despite some criticism about the “mix of formats and timelines” and mentioning “a few major plot holes.” Nonetheless, they applauded the “intense and ultimately cathartic climax.”

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Emmi talked about the lack of “full frontal” and “no gratuitous nudity” in the sex scenes. (Spoilers ahead.)

“There’s something more sexy about holding back in some ways. The landmark scene in the film when Andrew asks Lucas, ‘Can I touch you?’ feels even more sensual than the car scene [when they’re having sex],” he explained.

“The actors were really down for anything, but I am never going to be the kind of guy that’s like, ‘Now we’re going to do this,’ in terms of the nudity. I wanted everyone to feel safe. You have to feel safe. We’re making a movie. It’s not like surgery.”

Emmi stated that he sent a “very detailed spreadsheet” of the sex scenes to Blyth and Tovey’s teams, which they approved.

“A lot of it was character-based. Would Lucas be naked here? Would he feel comfortable taking off his pants in a locker room? Tom and I didn’t think so. We were fortunate to work with an intimacy coordinator named Joey Massa, who helped me choreograph those scenes and ensured everyone felt comfortable.”

While awaiting a worldwide release date for Plainclothes, you can watch an exclusive clip from IndieWire showcasing an intimate encounter between Lucas and Andrew in a bathroom stall.