Slipknot - Duality Video Analysis

Artist: Slipknot
Song: Duality
Director: Tony Petrossian
Year: 2003

Performance Footage

The video starts out with a close up shot of a person, which then cuts to a slow motion shots of lots of people running towards a house. It's a long take with very shaky camera work done intentionally, The slow motion fits with the slow start to the song. The song then picks up and cuts to performance shots inside the house, with the band members in their trade mark costumes. As the intensity of the song builds up the editing becomes quicker, with lot's shot variation including close-ups, birds eye views and shots of multiple band members.

Action Shot

There are plenty of low angle shots used also to connote power and menace. 

A good effect used is as the shots cuts to outside the lyrics are painted on the garage which correspond to what's being sung at the time. There isn't a particular narrative to the video, it cuts between performance shots of the band in the house to fans who are trashing the house. At some points it looks like an earthquake style effect may have been used as the song builds up to the chorus. As the song goes through more and more of the house gets destroyed such as people breaking through ceilings and smashing through windows. The video is very fitting for the type of song which is a heavy alternative style of metal. The video was actually shot at a fans house in Iowa who was compensated $50,000 for the damages.

I think the video works well due to it's great shot variation and camera work which is very fitting for the song. How the editing matches the pace of the music and style. Overall I think it's a very effective video.