Taylor Swift put a plot twist straight out of a thriller into her “Patient Zero” video, which is now available to watch on Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music (but not YouTube).
Swift’s “Patient Zero” starts and ends at a grave, and she brings a bit of Hollywood to its music video with Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell starring alongside her. Swift directed the visual and premiered it while receiving an award for directing music videos at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday (Sept. 27).
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Swift and Johnson twin with their looks in “Patient Zero,” wearing the same clothes and hairstyles, swimming with the same strokes and finding themselves in peril with the same man. In one scene, Swift and Johnson are reflections of one another in a mirror.
“Patient Zero” shows a relationship portrayed by Johnson and Farrell both playing out and falling out.
A dramatic scene depicts Johnson blacking out after a single drink and the aftermath in the car ride home — which has her apologizing as Farrell gaslights her.
“How many drinks have you had tonight?” he says. “It’s like you love humiliating me in front of everyone.”
As it turns out, she has reason to feel confused by what’s happening to her and by her partner’s reaction. Swift looms throughout the video in an attempt to warn of what’s to come.
“The Patient Zero video is finally out in the world!” Swift wrote on social media following the premiere. “Getting to work with @chivexp was something out of a dream sequence, and I learned so much from getting to watch his genius in action. I want to thank @dakotajohnson and Colin for trusting me 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). 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. @caradelevingne, thank you for agreeing to play the lusty other woman. That’s what friends are for?”
She continued, “With the Patient Zero video, I got to explore the cinematic and literary genres I love so much. 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. Thank you to @ethantobman for your insightful production design, and bringing that feeling to life. My editor @chancler has outdone himself. And lastly, thank you to the @vmas for giving us a World Premiere at the place where celebrating music videos became a thing. And so much love for you guys, always.”
“Patient Zero” is one of four new songs Swift unveiled this week in an unexpected release connected to her The Life of a Showgirl album. Besides “Patient Zero,” The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore features the bonus track “Cleveland!” as well as “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon.”
Swift was the recipient of the inaugural Artist Director Honors at the VMAs.
The accolade was created to recognize “groundbreaking music artists whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” and it “celebrates a sustained and influential body of work from artists who have pushed creative boundaries and developed a clear directorial voice,” according to the announcement of the honor.
She went into the awards Sunday night holding 30 Moon Persons, and walked out with two more: the Artist Director Honors and the video of the year award for “The Fate of Ophelia.”
The “Patient Zero” music video is currently available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music. It can also be seen in replays of the 2026 VMAs via MTV, CBS and Paramount+.
