The Weeknd sets a dark tone for ‘After Hours’ with new short film
The album is expected to arrive later this month.
Ahead of his After Hours album, The Weeknd has dropped off a short film of the same name. Directed by Anton Tammi, who also handled the “Blinding Lights” and “Heartless” music videos, the five-minute clip doesn’t offer any new music, but does set an eerie tone for The Weeknd’s upcoming project.
The visual opens up in Los Angeles — unlike the Las Vegas-set music videos — showing the singer sporting the same red suit and bloodied face. The Weeknd is all smiles as he wraps up a performance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” However, as he leaves the stage and walks through a dimly lit corridor, his face contorts to a look of pure despair. Fighting back tears, he walks through the streets of Los Angeles, until finally making his way down to the subway.
Suddenly, an invisible force takes hold of him, as he’s dragged throughout the subway tunnel. As The Weeknd struggles to escape, glitchy edits and fast-paced music heighten the scene’s drama. The singer next appears riding in an elevator. A young couple joins him, where they seemingly meet their gruesome end.
The clip is the latest cinematic visual to spawn from After Hours, following the “Blinding Lights,” “Heartless” and “After Hours” music videos. Last month, The Weeknd revealed his album’s title and set a March 20 release date for the project.
This June, he will also embark on his 57-date “After Hours Tour,” supported by Sabrina Claudio, Don Toliver and 88GLAM. Extending through November, the Canadian crooner will make stops in North American and Europe.
After Hours will serve as a follow-up to The Weeknd’s 2018 EP My Dear Melancholy, and mark his first full-length album since 2016’s Starboy.
Watch The Weeknd’s After Hours short film below. The clip notes that it may not be safe to view for those with epilepsy.