Paul Thomas Anderson Directs Thom Yorke in Trippy ‘Wall of Eyes’ Music Video — Watch

Paul Thomas Anderson is reuniting with his Radiohead cohorts.

The Oscar-winning auteur helms Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s latest music video for band The Smile along with Tom Skinner. The Smile’s new track “Wall of Eyes” is from the eponymous album, set to be released January 26 by XL Recordings.

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Anderson directs the trippy black-and-white music video for “Wall of Eyes,” which centers on Yorke wandering through London. Yorke is shown alone in a pub, staring at a literal wall of eyeballs with a Lynchian twist, and later among dozens of versions of himself. The music video was filmed on location at The Mildmay Club and on the streets of London, England from October 24 to 26, 2023.

“Wall of Eyes” also features strings by The London Contemporary Orchestra, conducted by Hugh Brunt. The video is produced by Sara Murphy, Erica Frauman, and Shirley O’Connor, with Andy Jurgensen editing.

Anderson previously directed Yorke’s short film “Anima” plus Radiohead music videos including “Daydreaming.” The 15-minute film co-starred Dajana Roncione and debuted on Netflix and in select IMAX theaters in 2021.

The “Phantom Thread” director reunited with “Licorice Pizza” star Alana Haim for the 2022 Haim song “Lost Track.” Anderson has directed a slew of Haim music videos over the years, in addition to his work with Radiohead and Fiona Apple.

Anderson recently addressed the current state of theatrical releases in an interview with AP News applauding how the IMAX debut of Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” has helped “heal” the film industry.

“When a filmmaker as strong as Chris is pointing a finger at you and telling you where to go…you listen,” Anderson said, “and audiences have been rewarded for it. I know some film buffs who drove from El Paso to Dallas to see the film properly. That’s about 18 hours round trip.”

He added, “I don’t think there’s anyone who could disagree: seeing ‘Oppenheimer’ on film is superior in every single way. Not to mention, people are tired of asking, ‘Why would I go to a movie theater to watch TV?’ Good question…you don’t have to anymore. I would call this is nature’s way of healing.”

Check out The Smile’s “Wall of Eyes” video below.

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