Taylor Swift premiered her self-directed “Patient Zero” ghost-story video at the Sept. 27 VMAs, starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Ferrell as a troubled couple. Swift appears as the man’s ex, whose gravestone hints she is a dead heiress. The single came out Friday.
Swift said the song idea came from a friend whose ex’s new girlfriend asked whether she had had similar experiences with the man. Swift said the video blends gothic ghost-story, true-crime and psychological-thriller elements, with its house representing a relationship that had grown cold.
Swift also received the VMAs’ inaugural Artist-Director Honor and later won video of the year for “The Fate of Ophelia.” “Patient Zero” was initially available on Spotify Premium, Apple Music and Amazon Music; an alert said it would be available on YouTube Tuesday.
