Synthwave Trio Gunship Releases Hypnotic Video for Their Cover of Cyndi Lauper’s ‘Time After Time’ (EXCLUSIVE)

The synthwave collective Gunship has unveiled a deeply evocative music video for their reinterpretation of Cyndi Lauper’s timeless classic, "Time After Time." This cover appears on the soundtrack for Corin Hardy’s recent horror feature, "Whistle," with the video helmed by Hardy himself. Rather than filming new material, the visual piece repurposes outtakes never before seen from the movie, providing audiences with an alternative glimpse into its unsettling narrative. The track, marrying retro synth textures with contemporary production, amplifies the film’s emotional resonance—a method frequently deployed in horror cinema to intensify both suspense and pathos.

In a statement, the band expressed their excitement about teaming up with Hardy, calling the partnership a long-cherished dream. "Working with Corin is an absolute fantasy come true," they remarked. "He’s a longtime friend with whom we bonded over our shared love of film and music, and we felt honored to have our song featured in the movie. After the 'Whistle' premiere, we were having a drink together, and he mentioned a beautiful pseudo 'one shot' sequence he was disappointed to have cut from the final edit. We suggested resurrecting it and turning it into a music video. Corin immediately understood the idea, and the result is perfect. It’s poignant, unsettling, and soaked in classic ’80s film noir atmosphere." This creative salvage of a deleted scene echoes a longstanding filmmaking tradition, where unused footage occasionally finds new purpose—similar to how Stanley Kubrick repurposed discarded shots for his promotional trailers, offering viewers a second chance to appreciate lost artistry.

Hardy, who previously directed the 2015 horror film "The Hallow," elaborated on his creative vision for the project. "My aim with 'Whistle' was to create a horror movie that felt like something I might have stumbled upon in the late 1980s, alongside films such as 'A Nightmare on Elm Street,' 'The Lost Boys,' and 'The Breakfast Club,'" he explained. "These were movies steeped in teenage angst and powerful emotions. Music was crucial for establishing the romantic atmosphere of those cinematic worlds. Gunship’s synth-heavy cover of Cyndi Lauper’s 'Time After Time' was always my first choice. Their unique, emotionally candid sound was perfect for a key scene in the film. To collaborate after the release and produce this extended music video is simply the icing on the cake. Dan, Al, and Al (Gunship) have given the film a true companion piece in the 'Whistle' universe… it makes me long for the days of MTV again!" The director’s nostalgic nod to MTV underscores the channel’s profound influence on 1980s pop culture, where music videos became a dominant force, launching icons like Madonna and Michael Jackson into superstardom and shaping the visual language of an era.

"Whistle" is now streaming on Shudder and available on VOD, featuring a cast that includes Dafne Keen (best known for her breakout role as Laura in "Logan"), Sophie Nélisse, Sky Yang, Jhaleil Swaby, Ali Skovbye, Percy Hynes White, and Nick Frost. The story centers on a cursed Aztec Death Whistle, which triggers a series of increasingly brutal deaths among a group of teenagers. For those drawn to the haunting visuals, the music video is accessible below, functioning as a standalone piece that extends the film’s dark and brooding mood, offering a fresh perspective on its horror elements.