If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power (film)

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power
	Poster
Directed by	Colin Tilley
Written by	Halsey
Produced by	Jamee Ranta
Starring	Halsey; Sasha Lane; Vuk Celebic; Brian Caspe; Marie Kaderabkova;
Cinematography	Elias Talbot
Edited by	Vinnie Hobbs
Production; company	Capitol Records
Distributed by	Universal Music Group; HBO Max;
Release date	August 25, 2021 (United States);
Running time	53 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1 million

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power is a period fantasy horror film directed by Colin Tilley and produced by Jamee Ranta. Serving as a visual companion to American singer-songwriter Halsey's fourth studio album of the same name, the film stars herself in the lead in dual roles as Queen Lila, a young pregnant queen and Lilith, her look-alike. She was also credited as the writer of the film.^{[note 1]} Also starring in the film are Sasha Lane, Vuk Celebic, Brian Caspe and Marie Kaderabkova. The film explores themes of motherhood, misogyny, gender, through the elements of historic royalty and mysticism.

Halsey attempted to create a visual album since her first studio album Badlands (2015) but she did not have the financial backup to do so. She met Tilley in December 2020, regarding a horror film based on motherhood and draws visual influences from historical fiction, such as the television series Game of Thrones (2011–2019) and the film Marie Antoinette (2006). The film was shot for 16 days at Prague in March 2021, adhering to the safety restrictions to prevent COVID-19 pandemic. The team did several practical effects for her costumes and wardrobe as Halsey was six months pregnant at that time of filming. Elias Talbot shot the film, while Vinnie Hobbs supervised editing.

If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power was screened at select IMAX theatres in United States on August 25, 2021, and internationally on August 26, to promote the album's release. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the direction, story, visuals, costume design, production values, aesthetics and themes of motherhood and fantasy. After its theatrical premiere, the film was screened at HBO Max on October 7, 2021. The film received nomination for Best Music Film at the NME Awards 2022.
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[note 1]