Tim Burton and Lady Gaga Film Music Video on Mexico City’s Island of the Dolls

In Mexico City’s Xochimilco canals lies the Island of the Dolls, a chilling attraction where hundreds of worn dolls hang from trees, their glassy eyes watching over visitors. This unsettling environment recently became the setting for "The Dead Dance," a music video collaboration between gothic filmmaker Tim Burton and pop icon Lady Gaga.

The video features Lady Gaga blending among the dolls, emphasizing the island’s haunting atmosphere. Located in a historic tourist area, the island was created by Julian Santana, who began collecting and hanging dolls from the 1950s until his passing in 2001.

"This wall is where the video begins," noted Juan Santana, Julian’s great-nephew and current caretaker, pointing to an old hut where his great-uncle rested after working as a farmer. "If you look now, here it is, [Lady Gaga’s] position looks a bit strange, but it was on this wall."

The production of the video was kept under strict secrecy, even excluding the island’s custodians. Juan Santana revealed, "We didn’t even know who was coming… in fact, they did not let us be here." Over 60 crew members and 18 trajinera boats transported equipment through the canals during the three-day shoot.

To ensure privacy, the entire island and surrounding areas were secured with tents and guards, preventing any unauthorized access. Despite efforts, the music could occasionally be heard by locals nearby.

Contrary to popular assumptions, Julian Santana did not start the doll collection to frighten the living, but rather to appease a restless spirit. Haunted by the ghost of a drowned girl found in the canals, Santana reportedly hung a plush doll he found floating in the water. After this act, sightings of the spirit reportedly ceased.

"Julian realized that when he hung the doll, he no longer heard the young woman or saw her silhouette," explained Santana’s grandnephew. Inspired, he gathered more dolls from neighbors and relatives, amassing around 1,500 over his lifetime. Among them was "Agustinita," his most cherished doll, which is featured prominently in the music video seated in a trajinera, a traditional canal boat.

On the day of the video’s release, Lady Gaga unexpectedly canceled a Miami concert due to vocal issues, sparking social media rumors about a so-called "curse of the Xochimilco dolls," fueled by her interactions with the dolls in the video.

However, the Santana family has experienced no misfortune; instead, the video has significantly increased tourist interest in the island. Fans of Lady Gaga are flocking to the site, eager to experience the eerie setting firsthand.

"This video made me curious to visit and take the opportunity to record a little video [for TikTok]," said Manuel Montes de Oca, a 28-year-old fan, dressed in an outfit similar to Lady Gaga’s and performing choreography from the video.

The Island of the Dolls, with its mysterious history and recent pop culture spotlight, continues to captivate and intrigue visitors from around the world.