Synopsis

A group of glamorous women pose and dance for the camera in a brightly lit setting, surrounded by food, money and luxury objects. Their polished, seductive image gradually gives way to uncontrolled indulgence as they gorge themselves and become increasingly grotesque. The women eventually transform into distorted, monstrous figures, vomiting and collapsing amid the remains of their excess. The video turns familiar glamour imagery into a surreal warning about consumerism, appetite and the ugly consequences of limitless consumption.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Hustler" features vocals by New York singer Char Johnson. The track appeared on Simian Mobile Disco's 2007 debut album, "Attack Decay Sustain Release."

• There are two notably different videos for the song. The original UK version shows women sitting in a circle, passing along a whispered message before the situation develops into a chain of same-sex kissing.

• The more widely discussed US version uses grotesque makeup and body effects to turn a conventional model-and-party setup into a piece of consumerist satire.

• The US video was made on a very small budget. Simian Mobile Disco said the production was assembled using equipment already being used for another shoot, with the band trusting the filmmaker to execute the concept.

• The concept was partly inspired by the 1989 cult horror film "Society," whose themes of wealthy excess and bodily transformation echo the video's climax.

• The video won Video of the Year at the 2008 ViMus Music Video Awards and was also nominated in the Director of the Year category at the MVPA Awards.

• The song itself grew out of Char Johnson improvising vocals over electronic instrumental material. James Ford and Jas Shaw later edited and reshaped the freestyle into the finished track.