All The Classic Horror References in Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ Music Video
Sabrina Carpenter’s music video for ‘Taste’ is a thrilling, horror-inspired spectacle that combines playful elements with a touch of gruesome fun. Co-starring Jenna Ortega, the video features a darkly comedic battle between the two over a love interest, with the visuals drawing heavily from classic horror cinema. It’s packed with nods to iconic films, including the infamous shower scene from ‘Psycho’ and the eye-patch-wearing nurse from ‘Kill Bill’, each reimagined with a quirky twist.
Opening with a warning for graphic violence, the video skillfully blends horror and humour, turning what could be unsettling into a series of exaggerated, cartoonish scenes. It pays homage to the campy chaos of ‘Death Becomes Her’, where Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn’s characters engage in a never-ending feud over a man while under the influence of a life-extending potion. Carpenter’s video transforms these classic horror tropes into a vibrant, playful spectacle that both entertains and pays tribute to the genre’s rich history.
Death Becomes Her
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A key reference in Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ music video is the nod to the 1992 cult classic ‘Death Becomes Her’, a dark comedy starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn. The video is set in a grand, eerie mansion that closely resembles the iconic home from the film, where much of its twisted narrative unfolds. This mansion isn’t merely a backdrop; it plays a pivotal role in the video, much like in ‘Death Becomes Her’, where the opulent yet sinister setting is central to the story’s bizarre events.
In a particularly striking scene, Carpenter is thrown off a balcony and impaled on a fence, leaving a gaping hole in her abdomen. While this shocking moment may catch some viewers off guard, it’s a clear homage to ‘Death Becomes Her’, where Streep and Hawn’s characters endure similarly absurd and fatal injuries, only to be resurrected thanks to a potion that grants eternal youth. This reference adds a layer of dark humour to the video, aligning it with the film’s signature blend of horror and comedy.
Kill Bill
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In Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ music video, there’s a clear homage to Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill’, particularly in a scene where Jenna Ortega, dressed in a nurse’s outfit with an eye patch, channels the iconic Elle Driver, played by Daryl Hannah. This reference to one of the film’s most notorious villains is unmistakable, adding a layer of cinematic nostalgia to the video.
Before Ortega dons the eye patch, Carpenter delivers a brutal knife-to-the-eye attack, a direct nod to ‘Kill Bill’’s graphic and unapologetic violence. This gruesome moment mirrors the film’s relentless portrayal of characters who endure severe injuries yet remain undeterred in their quests for vengeance, making it a fitting tribute to Tarantino’s style.
Child’s Play
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In the ‘Taste’ music video, Sabrina Carpenter pays homage to the Child’s Play series, particularly the iconic killer doll, Chucky, by using a voodoo doll to control Jenna Ortega’s movements. This scene captures the eerie and supernatural vibe of the horror series, with Carpenter delighting in her sinister power.
The twist comes when Ortega reveals that she also has a voodoo doll of Carpenter, turning the tables by tossing it into the fire. This act causes Carpenter to burst into flames, adding a fiery and unexpected twist to their darkly comedic feud.
Psycho
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No horror-themed music video is complete without a nod to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’, and Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Taste’ delivers. In a tense scene, Carpenter enters the mansion, knife in hand, and discovers Jenna Ortega and her lover in the shower, setting the stage for a striking homage to the iconic shower scene from ‘Psycho’.
However, instead of ending with a lifeless body in the tub, the scene takes a bloody twist. The confrontation escalates into an ongoing, violent exchange between Carpenter and Ortega, with the ‘Wednesday’ star ultimately chopping off Carpenter’s arm, pushing the horror homage into darkly comedic territory.
Beetlejuice 2
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While the video for ‘Taste’ doesn’t directly reference the upcoming ‘Beetlejuice’ sequel, it subtly hints at what’s to come. The final scene in the video features visuals strikingly similar to the first-look images from the sequel’s funeral scene.
These eerie shots echo the dark, whimsical aesthetic ‘Beetlejuice’ is known for, suggesting a playful nod to the cult classic’s much-anticipated return.
-Sushmita Sarkar
