Synopsis

Set in a shabby traveling circus, the video follows Dave Gahan as a swaggering strongman whose relationship with a petite clown begins to unravel. She is drawn instead to Martin Gore's quieter clown character, leaving Gahan isolated despite his apparent strength and status. Andrew Fletcher and Alan Wilder appear as eccentric circus performers, while dancers add to the deliberately awkward spectacle. The story unfolds like a miniature tragicomedy, mixing romance, jealousy, and absurdity with the song's darkly seductive mood.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Halo" was filmed as an album-track video for the 1990 collection "Strange Too - Another Violation," rather than as the promotion for a conventional single.

• The video was released in 1990, alongside the other "Violator"-era clips assembled for "Strange Too." It was one of two videos made for non-single album tracks, the other being "Clean."

• The "Violator" videos made for "Strange Too" were shot on Super 8, giving "Halo" its grainy, home-movie texture and slightly dreamlike colors.

• The taller of the two female dancers is Jenna Elfman, years before she became widely known for starring in the television comedy "Dharma & Greg." IMDb lists her role as the "Tall Dancer," while Pam Heffler is credited as the "Tiny Dancer."

• "Halo" was reportedly considered for single release, but the plan was abandoned. The video therefore remained a comparatively elusive part of the "Violator" campaign for many years.

• The video was produced by Richard Bell. Its theatrical circus setting and deliberately mismatched performers made it one of the more overtly comic and story-driven pieces associated with Depeche Mode's otherwise austere "Violator" visual era.

• "Strange Too" was eventually reissued on DVD and Blu-ray in 2023, giving "Halo" a more accessible official home outside its original VHS and LaserDisc releases.