Bad Bunny is in his spooky era. On Oct. 31, the Puerto Rican icon dropped his German expressionism-influenced music video for “BATICANO,” from his newest album nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana.
Directed by STILLZ, the music video features the American actor and director/producer Steve Buscemi as an experimental chemist and Bad Bunny as his vampire-like creation with pointy ears a la Nosferatu. The camera follows Benito’s character creeping over a sleeping woman, rapping in a hazy forest-like ambiance, and roaming an eerie grave. One of the strongest parts of the video are clips that show the contradictions of having a portrait of Jesus in front of a man who is being domestically violent, and how a man allows his son to watch an act of violence but covers his eyes when a scene of two men kissing on a television screen. Towards the end of the video, Benito is seen kneeling in a prayer position. He also gets advice from the Buscemi, who warns him that the world is cruel and horrible, and reassures him that he’s beautiful and perfect.
Overall, the black-and-white music video highlights inspirations from early 20th-century German expressionism in cinema. The visuals echo scenes that remind us of iconic silent horror films like Nosferatu (adapted from Dracula) and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. We also see sharp and minimalistic architecture, oblique lines, surreal imagery, and shadow work that capture the era’s inspiration.
“BATICANO” follows the release of the album’s lead single, “MONACO.” In “MONACO,” Benito boasts of his lavish lifestyle by eating fine dishes and enjoying life’s luxuries. The music video also features the influential actor Al Pacino, who gives the “LA SANTA” singer his blessing.
Next year, Bad Bunny will embark on his trap-only Most Wanted Tour. The highly-anticipated tour will start in Salt Lake City, UT, on Feb. 21 and wrap up in Miami, FL, on May 26.
Check out the music video for “BATICANO” below.