Perhaps the greatest music video of all time, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” pushed the boundaries of what the medium could be. Instead of releasing a short clip that ran the length of the song, he instead pushed for a near 14-minute video that has since become one of the most recognized and iconic music videos in history. And what made it so fun, on top of the amazing zombie dance sequence, was that it felt like a short film. It took the time to show us some characters, to build upon them, and to give us a fleshed out story.
When I started out at Bloody-Disgusting, I was writing for their music section. I wrote about upcoming albums, did interviews and reviews, and waxed poetic about older albums and soundtracks. I also wrote about newly released music videos, ones that I felt people would enjoy if they gave it a chance. By doing so, I found multiple music videos that really stood out as being exceptionally creative in some particular way. Maybe it was the story, maybe it was the presentation, maybe it was the color scheme… Whatever it was, it made an impression and, often times, I found myself wanting more.
So, to that end, I want to bring you five music videos that I feel would make for a fantastic feature length film!
Ghost Dance “We Are Just a Sign”
This is a brand new video that just came out today but it’s already got my attention. The basic plot here is that two friends drug and ultimately ritualistically kill a third person who then begins to haunt them. The only way the two can see this ghostly figure is through technology, particularly smartphone cameras. Ultimately, it doesn’t end well for anyone.
What I enjoyed about this video is how serious it was as well as how interestingly it portrayed the haunting of technology. The screen felt like it was melted, glitching and distorting wildly. The fact that it’s set in Europe also adds a elegance and mystery that we simply don’t have in America. If put in the right hands, a feature length version of this video could easily be extremely effective and even potentially a commentary on our reliance on technology. Think Kairo meets “Black Mirror”!
Carpenter Brut “Turbo Killer”
So this one is kinda cheating since a sequel-of-sorts is being crowdfunded right now but that’s a sequel. I want the original story expanded upon!
In “Turbo Killer”, we see an alien spacecraft descend upon what seems to be Earth on a rescue mission. Using a fellow alien, who might be a physical incarnation of the ship’s computer, as a vehicle, the gas mask-wearing protagonist drives a sleek sports car through gothic landscapes while ultimately being chased by the villains. It’s The Fast and the Furious meets The Hitcher meets Blade Runner and I would LOVE to dive deep into that world!
Sigur Rós “Varúð”
This isn’t an official video. Rather, this clip, which was directed by Jeff Ray, was part of the “Valtari Mystery Film Experiment“. Although it didn’t win, I felt like it was one of the most powerful videos I’d ever seen, a feeling I still hold to this day.
The story of a young couple who find themselves in a horrible, painful, and impossible situation, a film could be just as much about their survival and efforts to live in a broken, diseased world as it is about the inevitable violence they must encounter…and suffer through. I have no problem seeing something like this take place in the same world as 28 Days Later.
Le Matos feat. PAWWS “No Tomorrow”
Much like “Turbo Killer”, this is kind of a cheat. Instead of this being the the set up for a larger film, “No Tomorrow” acts as the prequel to the 2015 sci-fi nostalgia film Turbo Kid. It brings back Apple, played by Laurence Leboeuf, who is utterly delightful and charming. And while this video was the announcement that a sequel to Turbo Kid was being produced, I found myself wanting to know more about Apple. Where did she came from? What happened to make her the way she is? How did she make it through this world?
Furthermore, this video expands upon the mythology of the world that Apple and “The Kid” live in. It reveals a cult as well as a massive statue, something that begs the question, “Where is this world?” While a sequel to Turbo Kid is more than welcome, I wouldn’t say no to a full-fledged prequel!
Harrison Kipner “Monster”
I have a weird soft spot in my heart for psychological thrillers that also have a dash of supernatural elements within them. They just tickle my fancy, I guess.
In “Monster”, three young ballerinas are training with two obviously ganging up on and making life miserable for the third. Because of their constant assaults, the third ballerina gives in to her dark side and embraces the monster within. It’s basically Black Swan meets Suspiria and I want more!
