Synopsis

In a deserted suburban town, a young boy wanders freely with his dog while strange, shadowy creatures patrol the streets. James Mercer is captured and dragged through the ruins by the monsters, becoming one of the adults who have disappeared from the child's world. The boy explores the surrounding woods, plays with a mannequin head, and launches fireworks into the dark sky. The contrast between his imaginative freedom and Mercer's bleak fate gives the video a dreamlike, post-apocalyptic tone.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video accompanied "It's Only Life," the second single from The Shins' 2012 album Port of Morrow.

• It premiered online on July 11, 2012, through Pitchfork.

• The production was filmed in Portland, Oregon.

• The credited cast includes James Mercer, Calvin Dunleavy, and Riot the dog.

• The clip was produced by Doomsday Entertainment.

• The monsters were created through creature design and visual-effects work, giving the video its distinctive blend of grounded suburban locations and storybook-like horror.

• The video's imagery was widely noted for placing a child's adventurous perspective alongside Mercer's grim abduction, making the song's themes of aging and enduring difficult periods feel literal rather than abstract.