"Habit"

25 August 2020

3 mins 55s

Habit

This surreal promo for Mellah's latest track 'Habit' brings to life the self-sabotaging cycles present in the song's lyrics. The fact it was shot during lockdown has a direct impact on the film's visuals, as infinite versions of Mellah haunt and taunt the singer by turns.

Whether pulling out their own teeth, slapping mouse traps, or frying up their own hands for breakfast, director Thomas James leaves it open to interpretation whether these are gleeful acts of self harm or an attempt to hurt the 'real' Mellah. The singer seems blankly unaffected throughout, showing that it's possible to become numb to such self-inflicted assaults (physical, emotional, or relationship-based) over time.

Be warned, this isn't a film for the faint of heart and some of the expertly-implied violence (a mouth-based papercut is a particularly visceral example) is sure to inspire a wince. However, the overall effect will reward viewers with strong constitutions, and inspire questions about our own subconscious acts of self-sabotage.

UK

Promos