The aesthetic draws heavily from the symmetrical, pastel-hued style of Wes Anderson and the dream-like, often violent logic of surrealist films like Un Chien Andalou.
It references classic cinema tropes, including the Western and Horror genres, and makes a direct nod to actress Michelle Pfeiffer through the lyrics and visual styling. Key Symbolic Motifs Analysis of Vance Joy's Riptide Music Video - Quizlet Vance Joy - 'Riptide' Official Video
The video is famous for depicting lyrics almost word-for-word, such as showing waves for "riptide" or a woman at a dentist's office for "scared of dentists". including the Western and Horror genres