In a morally bankrupt and systemically homophobic operation, Lucas is a promising young undercover agent lauded for his success in a devastating sting: entrapping and arresting gay men. Tasked with blending into queer spaces to lure targets into compromising situations, he is the perfect weapon—believable, charming, and detached. He follows orders without question, burying his own identity beneath a façade of duty, until the day he is assigned to investigate Christian. Their connection is immediate and profound, sparking a awakening that threatens to dismantle the very foundation of Lucas’s life and career.

“Plainclothes” is a gripping, heart-wrenching thriller and a forbidden romance set against the backdrop of institutionalized prejudice. As Lucas falls deeply in love with the man he was supposed to destroy, he is forced to confront the horrific reality of his work and the lives he has ruined. Caught between his duty to a corrupt system and his loyalty to his own heart, Lucas must make an impossible choice: betray the love that has finally made him feel whole, or become a target of the very machine he once served.

Meet the Cast of Plainclothes

– Tom Blyth as Lucas

Tom Blyth delivers a career-defining performance of breathtaking nuance and internal conflict as Lucas, the undercover agent torn apart by his conscience. Blyth masterfully portrays Lucas’s initial detachment and professional arrogance, a man who has built walls around his true self to survive a soul-corroding job. His transformation begins subtly—a flicker of doubt in his eyes, a moment of hesitation—as he confronts the human cost of his actions, building to a powerful crescendo of self-realization and moral courage.

Blyth’s performance is a raw and visceral exploration of a man in freefall. His chemistry with Sam Asa Brownstein is electric and deeply authentic, making his character’s awakening feel both terrifying and liberating. Blyth ensures we feel every moment of Lucas’s paralyzing fear, his burgeoning desire, and his ultimate defiance, crafting a heartbreaking portrait of a man who must destroy his life in order to finally begin living it. It is a performance of immense emotional power and vulnerability.

– Sam Asa Brownstein as Christian

Sam Asa Brownstein is a revelation as Christian, the bright, charismatic, and open-hearted man who becomes the unintended target of Lucas’s operation. Brownstein brings a luminous authenticity to the role, portraying Christian not as a victim, but as a man fully alive in his identity and community. His warmth and genuine nature become the catalyst for Lucas’s awakening, and Brownstein makes their connection feel utterly inevitable and real, a beacon of truth in Lucas’s world of lies.

Brownstein’s performance is crucial to the film’s high emotional stakes. He embodies the vibrant world that Lucas is secretly tasked with destroying, and his vulnerability and trust make the eventual revelation of Lucas’s deception utterly devastating. Brownstein ensures that Christian is far more than just a plot device; he is the soul of the film, representing the love, art, and community that Lucas comes to fight for, making his performance both joyful and profoundly moving.

– Christian Cooke as Ron

Christian Cooke is brilliantly cast as Ron, Lucas’s seasoned, cynical, and fiercely loyal partner in the undercover unit. Cooke brings a rugged, world-weary intensity to the role, portraying a man who has long since made peace with the moral compromises of their work. He is Lucas’s mentor and closest confidant, making him the first to notice the dangerous shift in his partner’s allegiance and the one most threatened by it.

Cooke’s performance adds a layer of gripping tension and tragic inevitability to the narrative. Ron represents the path of least resistance—the choice to follow orders and survive the system. His escalating suspicion and attempts to reel Lucas back in create some of the film’s most suspenseful and emotionally complex scenes, as their professional bond and personal friendship is strained to the breaking point by Lucas’s love for Christian.

– Maria Dizzia as Marie

Maria Dizzia brings a steely, formidable presence to the role of Marie, the commanding officer who runs the ruthless entrapment operation. Dizzia portrays Marie not as a cartoonish villain, but as a chillingly pragmatic and efficient bureaucrat, convinced of her moral and legal righteousness. Her calm demeanor and cold approval of their tactics make her a far more terrifying antagonist, representing the banality of evil within a homophobic system.

Dizzia’s performance is a masterclass in quiet authority and implied threat. Her scenes with Blyth are charged with a psychological power struggle, as she uses praise, promotion, and veiled warnings to keep her most valuable asset in line. She is the embodiment of the institutional pressure Lucas must defy, and Dizzia makes her a uniquely intimidating and memorable foe.

– Henry Stockwell, Ben Anderson & Jason Ngo as Men in Bathroom

Henry Stockwell, Ben Anderson, and Jason Ngo appear in crucial supporting roles as various men targeted by the police sting. Though their screen time may be limited, their performances are vitally important, providing the harrowing human context for Lucas’s internal conflict. Each actor conveys the shame, fear, and devastating personal consequences of the entrapment with heartbreaking authenticity.

Their collective presence serves as the moral conscience of the film’s first act, representing the countless lives destroyed by the operation long before Lucas meets Christian. Their terrified faces and ruined futures are the ghosts that haunt Lucas’s journey, and the performances by Stockwell, Anderson, and Ngo ground the film in a painful, historical reality, making Lucas’s ultimate choice all the more urgent and necessary.

– Joseph Emmi Sr. as Gus

Joseph Emmi Sr. brings a grounded, everyman quality to the role of Gus, likely a bartender, shop owner, or community figure within the gay neighborhood where the stings take place. Emmi Sr. provides a sense of place and normalcy, representing the everyday world that is under silent siege. His character might serve as an unwitting observer or a wary elder who senses the danger lurking in his community.

His performance adds a layer of verisimilitude and texture to the setting. Gus represents the broader social fabric that is torn by the police actions, and his presence helps to build the world beyond the central romance, highlighting the communal impact of the systemic prejudice that Lucas is a part of.

– Charli Emmi & Oliver Fedrizzi in supporting roles

Charli Emmi and Oliver Fedrizzi appear in supporting roles, likely as friends of Christian within the community or other figures in Lucas’s world. Their performances, though not specified, contribute to the rich tapestry of the film’s environment. They help to flesh out Christian’s world, making it feel vibrant, lived-in, and worth fighting for, or they may represent facets of Lucas’s life outside of his undercover work, emphasizing everything he stands to lose.

Every supporting performance in “Plainclothes” is essential to building the film’s tense, authentic, and emotionally charged atmosphere. They collectively create the world that is both the backdrop for a beautiful love story and the target of a horrific injustice, making the central conflict resonate on both a deeply personal and a powerfully societal level.

Why Plainclothes Is a Must-See

• A Timely & Powerful Story: A searing historical thriller that explores a dark chapter of LGBTQ+ history with profound relevance for today.

• Tour-de-Force Performances: Tom Blyth and Sam Asa Brownstein deliver stunning, breakout performances with incredible chemistry.

• Heart-Pounding Suspense: A gripping, emotionally charged narrative that is as much a thriller as it is a romance.

• A Triumph of Love: A beautiful and defiant celebration of love’s power to conquer fear and inspire incredible courage.

His Mission Was to Destroy Love. His Heart Had a Different Plan. Plainclothes premieres in theaters September 19, 2025.