Music

Unpacking All The Easter Eggs In The ‘All Too Well’ Short Film

From scarves and Jake Gyllenhaal to sneaky references to her next album.

by Joseph Earp  15 November 2021
all too well short film easter eggs photo

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There are few artists who work as hard to create a miniature world of in-jokes, references and clues as Taylor Swift.

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Unpacking 'All Too Well', Taylor Swift's Finest Song

Over the years that she has been one of the biggest popstars on the planet, the ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ singer has endeavoured to drip-feed her fans a series of poetic allusions to her personal life, revealing herself in every breathy melody; in each carefully observed narrative snippet. Little wonder that her stans, known as Swifties, are some of the most committed digital sleuths in the world — they know that the time and attention they pay to Swift’s music pays off in droves.

With the release of Red (Taylor’s Version), that online detective work has only flourished. The “new” album, a fresh version of the record that cemented Swift’s superstar status, boasts features (including one with Phoebe Bridgers), fresh verses, and an extended version of one of the singer-songwriter’s best works, ‘All Too Well’.

Yep, after being heavily rumoured for years, we finally have a 10-minute version of that heartbreaking masterpiece. Moreover, the track even has its own accompanying clip, a melancholy look at lost love that was written and directed by Swift herself.

Both the song and the video are jam-packed with details, a plethora of narrative treats that can get overwhelming to the casual listener. So, here’s our breakdown of all the secrets held within ‘All Too Well’, and a rundown of the relationship that inspired it.

Yes, This Is About Jake Gyllenhaal

‘All Too Well’ has long been read as a reference to Swift’s relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. The two dated briefly, when Swift was 21 and Gyllenhaal was 30, and the song makes numerous references to a large age gap between its doomed lovers. That’s why your timeline has undoubtedly been flooded by images of the actor crying — Swift’s fans read the release of Red (Taylor’s Version) as a stunning riposte to the man who broke the musician’s heart.

Swift’s fans have even gone so far as to note the physical similarity between the male lover in the ‘All Too Well’ clip, played by Dylan O’Brien, and Gyllenhaal himself.

Then there’s the age difference between the actors playing the film’s leads — the Swift analogue, played by Sadie Sink, is 19, whereas O’Brien is 30. That’s pretty close to the age that Gyllenhaal and Swift both were when they dated, making their casting read like a carefully dropped reference to the tumultuous, real-life relationship.

What About The Scarf?

The clip extensively features a scarf, a kind of totemic symbol of the disintegrating relationship — we see the Swift analogue wear it, and then later, the Gyllenhaal analogue drape it around his neck long after the love has dissolved. The scarf is also referenced in the lyrics of the song itself: “I left my scarf there at your sister’s house,” Swift sings. “And you’ve still got it in your drawer even now.”

The scarf will be a familiar sight to most Swifties. After all, when the song was first released, they did some digging and found paparazzi shots of Gyllenhaal wearing a scarf that looks suspiciously like the same garment that Swift was previously snapped in — while walking down the street with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jake’s sister, no less. Maggie has been asked about the iconic knitwear before; in one interview, she said it was “possible” that Swift did indeed leave it at her house.

But wherever it is now, it’s clear that the scarf won’t be leaving the discourse any time soon.

Spurned Lovers And Bad Birthday Parties

As Buzzfeed notes, the ‘All Too Well’ clip features a scene of the Swift analogue sitting down before a birthday cake, surrounded by friends, thinking back to her lover. That moment is an echo of a heartbreak contained within the song ‘The Moment I Knew’, a reflection on a time in which Swift’s partner didn’t show up to her birthday.

“And it was like slow motion,” Swift sings on ‘The Moment I Knew’. “Standing there in my party dress … With no one to impress/And they’re all laughing as I’m looking around the room/But there was one thing missing/And that was the moment I knew.”

Was the absent lover Gyllenhaal? Swifties certainly think so.

Jennifer Aniston And The ‘All Too Well’ Connection

In the new version of ‘All Too Well’, Swift makes references to being consoled by a nameless actress after her lover fails to show up to her party. “Not weeping in a party bathroom/Some actress asking me what happened, you/That’s what happened, you,” Swift sings.

Well, as reported by Teen Vogue, fans are pretty sure that the anonymous actress is none other than Jennifer Aniston. Swifties have dug up a news article from just after the Swift/Gyllenhaal split, in which it is reported that Aniston consoled the singer with some important advice.

“Hang in there,” Aniston apparently said. “Everything will be okay.”

Hope Springs Eternal

The ‘All Too Well’ video also features a number of references to the clip for ‘Lover’ — the two works of art are sisters, in a way, filled with cross-references to one another. As Buzzfeed notes, both contain a birthday party sequence — though in the ‘Lover’ clip, the boyfriend actually shows up. There’s also a similarity in costuming: both videos feature a green-and-black patterned garment.

Many Swifties are reading this as a reference to the happy ending Swift encountered: despite having her heart broken, she would eventually meet and fall in love with Joe Alwyn, the subject of ‘Lover’. So there’s beauty to be found in this heartbreak too.

Is 1989 The Next Taylor Swift Re-Release?

Again, as noted by Buzzfeed, the ‘All Too Well’ clip features a 1989 Mercedes Benz, a not-so-subtle nod to Swift’s astonishing 1989. Fans are pretty determined that that’s a hint the next record Taylor Swift re-records will be 1989. Only time will tell — but, given Swift’s habit of leaving clues in plain sight, it sure seems likely.