The Nature of the Exterminator

The Nature of the Exterminator is a 2017 short film, directed and executive produced by Russian singer Putanovska and Jonas Akerlund, a long-time collaborator. The film was released on December 8, 2017 on the HBO network, in conjunction with Holy Trinity Music Group, Putanovska's management company. The film uses a combination of professional camera footage in combination with "found footage" style shots. Upon its release, the film opened to very positive reviews from critics.

Setting
The Nature of the Exterminator was divided into 4 chapters named "Initiation", "Rules", "Guilt", and "Exterminate". The film is shot in the style of an instructional video, narrated by Putanovska, intended to entice the viewer into joining a fictional cult that worships an unseen entity named "the Exterminator". Each of the chapters incorporates songs from Exterminator/Eurocreme, Putanovska's eighth studio album; the film is meant to act as a companion piece to the first half of the album.

Plot
The first act is named "Initiation". Shot in the style of an instructional VHS video titled "The Nature of the Exterminator" of unknown origin, filmed in an unknown location. The video features Putanovska narrating the process by which someone would become indoctrinated into a cult which worships someone named "the Exterminator". Putanovska reminds the viewer that after watching this video, they have consciously agreed to be part of the cult, and that only individuals who have made it past the "selection stage" have access to watching it. The video depicts a supposed recorded history of the Exterminator, claiming that "He has always been there; he waits for His children to see the light and turn to him". The songs "Nothing New Under The Sun" and "Heathens" are featured in this section, with Putanovska performing intricate choreography along with cult members dancing in a forest.