Today, we have the video for Radiohead’s Burn the Witch. Through the use of stop motion animation, Burn the Witch tells a disturbing little story, one that deals with an inspector who comes to a seemingly idyllic English village and who eventually ends up getting trapped in a wicker man. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen either the original Wicker Man or the remake starring Nicolas Cage. The video for Burn the Witch is actually a bit more positive than the film that inspired it. In the video, the inspector escapes at the end. Neither Edward Woodward nor Nic Cage were quite as lucky.
As for the song itself, it deals with the dangers of groupthink and blind obedience to authority. Since Radiohead’s music has always possessed a libertarian streak, that’s certainly not a shock. The video condemns not only those who would demand blind obedience but also on those who are foolish enough to give it. First released in 2016, this video easily predicted much of what would happen in 2020s, from the COVID hysteria on down.
Of course, with The Wicker Man theme, it’s also perfect for October!
Enjoy!
