The purpose of the video was to promote the song “Digging in the Dirt” from Peter Gabriel’s album “Us.” It was intended for an MTV audience and for general television use. The video delves into the depths of Peter’s psyche and explores the darker side of his personality. Peter was trying to illustrate the violent emotions that reside in all of us, and to uncover traumas from childhood. Both Peter and the filmmaker, John Downer, intended the film to be provocative and to stand as a piece of work in its own right, pushing the boundaries of what a music video could be.