Heath Ledgers Directorial Debut Modest Mouse Music Video - King Rat

We knew Heath Ledger was was working on two music videos before he died. One of the music videos was for Grace Woodroofe, the other one was for Modest Mouse's King Rat, which is now available for your viewing pleasure.

The music video is completely animated with a touch of Terry Gilliam's style thrown in. The video has got some pretty crazy visuals, and near the end gets pretty horrific. Here is the press release from Myspace, which goes into detail on the inspiration and meaning behind the music video.

In January of 2007, while visiting his homeland of Australia, Heath Ledger presented Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse with an idea to direct a video for their yet-to-be-released song ‘King Rat'. Heath's vision, brave and unapologetic in its nature, would marry his love of bold and original music with his impassioned stance against the illegal commercial whale hunts taking place of the coast of Australia each year. Always one to operate from his heart and take a stand for what he cared deeply about, Heath's intention was to raise awareness on modern whaling practices through a potent visual piece without having to say a word. It was his way to let the story, in its candid reversal, speak for itself.

The video was fully conceived down to the last detail but unfinished when Heath passed away in January of 2008. In the interest of fully realizing Heath's final work as a visual artist, THE MASSES (a film and music company which Heath was a partner in) finished the video in his honor, with the support and advocacy of Isaac Brock.

King Rat will be on Modest Mouse's next album No One's First, And You're Next. Check out the music video below and give us your thoughts!

King Rat