Taylor Swift’s red lipstick returns in her latest music video, but a quieter moment offers the first surprise.
In a teaser for “Patient Zero,” posted to Instagram on September 24, Swift appears in a gray tank top with her hair pulled into a ponytail. Her usual bold lip and winged eyeliner are absent. Under blue lighting, a tear runs down her cheek.
The shot lasts about a second within the 13-second preview. It is a brief departure from the evening dresses and polished makeup seen elsewhere in the footage, which also features Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
The full video is set to premiere at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, September 27. Swift’s expanded album, The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, arrived on September 25, ahead of the screening.
A Tearful Moment Without the Familiar Red Lip
Swift is seated in the understated scene, leaning forward with her elbows propped up and her hands clasped. She wears black shorts with the ribbed tank top, while her bangs fall across her forehead.
There is little in the outfit to distract from her expression. The cool lighting and visible tear give the moment a melancholy feel, though the preview does not reveal what has led to it.
Her makeup also deserves a closer description than “completely bare-faced.” Although her lipstick and prominent eyeliner are missing, she appears to have black mascara on. The look is minimal, but the footage does not establish that she is wearing no makeup at all.
That softer appearance stands out because the teaser also includes the familiar elements of Swift’s formal styling. Rather than abandoning red lipstick throughout the video, she moves between two noticeably different looks.
The casual scene places her alone in the frame described in the preview. Later shots bring her together with her co-stars, dressed for a much more glamorous setting. How those moments fit together remains unclear.
Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell Join the Video
For the evening scenes, Swift wears a backless black halter dress with diamond earrings. Her hair is partly pinned up, leaving the rest down, and her bangs sit just above her eyes.
Deep red lipstick, black winged eyeliner, and dark mascara complete the look. It is a more dramatic presentation than the tank top and ponytail, giving the short preview a clear change in mood.
Johnson appears in a sleeveless black evening gown, with her hair swept into an updo. Long drop earrings finish her outfit. Both women wear black, although their hairstyles and accessories give each look its own details.
Farrell follows the same color scheme in an all-black suit and a matching watch. The teaser brings the three performers together without explaining their characters or the nature of their meeting.
One of the more distinctive shots shows Swift and Johnson standing at sinks in a dimly lit bathroom. They reach to turn on the taps in similar movements.
The action is brief, and its meaning is left unexplained. There is no basis in the preview alone to say whether the women are allies, rivals, or connected in some other way.
For now, the casting and clothing offer a clearer picture than the plot. Viewers see the performers sharing a setting, but the full video will need to supply the context behind their encounter.
“Patient Zero” Accompanies the Expanded Album
The preview arrived just before The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, an extended edition of Swift’s 2025 album.
Alongside “Patient Zero,” the additional songs include “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.” “Cleveland!” includes an affectionate reference to Swift’s husband, Travis Kelce.
The release gives listeners the music before the complete “Patient Zero” video arrives on Sunday. That leaves a short gap between hearing the song and seeing how Swift, Johnson, and Farrell bring its story to the screen.
The teaser itself keeps that story largely under wraps. There are no lengthy scenes to establish what happens before the tearful close-up or after the bathroom encounter. Its quick cuts introduce the looks and performers while withholding the connections between them.
Even the wardrobe change raises a question the preview cannot answer: whether the casual and formal scenes represent different moments in the story or serve another purpose.
What is visible is the range of Swift’s presentation. In one shot, she sits in simple clothes with restrained makeup and a tear on her face. In another, she wears diamonds, an evening dress, and the deep red lipstick associated with her public appearances.
Both belong to “Patient Zero.” Their place in the larger narrative will become clear when the complete video premieres at the VMAs on September 27.
