Taylor Swift’s music video for her new song “Patient Zero” has officially made its world premiere at the MTV Video Music Awards. Starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, the new video opens with Swift joining Johnson in a graveyard. The two play doppelgangers, living parallel lives as Johnson recovers from a toxic relationship with Farrell’s character.
The video takes a twist at the end, as it’s revealed that the footage of Swift and Farrell’s character happened before he poisoned and murdered her.
“Swift’s character is a ghost looking after Johnson, writing a warning in blood for her to ‘run,’” Today wrote.
As Johnson leaves flowers at Swift’s grave, her tombstone reads, “Beloved wife and daughter gone too soon.”
After the video premiered, Swift took to social media to share the story behind the video. She said she got to explore “the cinematic and literary dramas [she] love[s] so much.”
“The ‘Patient Zero’ video is finally out in the world,” Swift said. “I wanted to incorporate elements of gothic ghost stories, true crime, psychological thrillers all in a setting I hadn’t really shot in much. The house was a metaphor for the coldness of a relationship that’s faded and atrophied.”
The Patient Zero video is finally out in the world! Getting to work with Emmanuel Lubezki was something out of a dream sequence, and I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action. I want to thank Dakota and Colin for trusting me with their time, taste, and talent… pic.twitter.com/vkLCO167Ea
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) September 28, 2026
Swift thanked Johnson and Farrell for trusting her with their “time, taste, and talent.”
“Giggling with your friend because you’re twinning for an entire shoot was a new and truly delightful experience,” Swift continued. “And Colin’s turn as a villain is even more impressive when you get to be around him. He’s an absolute light and as kind as they come.”
“Patient Zero” was directed by Swift, with cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki. She said that getting to work with Lubezki “was something out of a dream sequence.”
“I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action,” Swift said.
The “Patient Zero” music video premiered at the MTV VMAs and is available to watch now on Spotify, Apple Music or Amazon Music.
Leave a Reply