Ben Fredericks, director of Tottenham band The Dark Lights’ debut music video, is not giving away any clues.

Brilliant but baffling, his new short film to promote the five-piece’s track The Eye is full of intrigue – and that’s exactly the point.

“Nothing should make sense!“ says the Camden-based film-maker. “People want resolution, they want me to tell them what’s in the box and why it goes in that order but essentially that bit is for them to decide.“

The video, launched on Friday, opens with heavy breathing and a shot of a ornate wooden box being placed in a cupboard. The camera then zooms menacingly into an anxious looking young woman, her back up against a door, before the song begins.

Having worked on a previous project with the band’s bass player Rachel Ho, Ben was given a choice of songs to shoot, quickly selecting the pounding electronica cut The Eye from their latest, two track album X Ray Spectacle 1.

“It’s a really catchy track,“ says the 29-year-old, “it’s really interesting. The lyrics are really open giving me a bit of freedom to make the sort of films I make.

“The lyrics hinted at certain things without describing exactly what.“

After the intriguing opening, the film follows, from the shadows, the woman in question as she scurries scared down the east London streets where it was shot.

Is she being chased or secretly stalked as she rushes into the Off Broadway bar to meet her companion?

After some unheard discussion and some hesitation (there are no subtitles to help us) the pair climb a high rise apartment block – both being watched now.

Inside, the girl takes the mysterious box from the cupboard and gets changed. The watchman ascending now (seen with a switch to his or her point-of-view), the video reaches a explosive climax that explains next to nothing about what has proceded it.

It comes as little surprise to learn that Ben is a David Lynch fan.

“In the back of my mind was Mulholland Drive,“ he reveals, “which basically was the first film that I’d seen, which made me realise that film narrative didn’t have to make sense.

“I come more from a fine art background, looking at ideas rather than resolving a story. It’s a surreal narrative not necessarily about what’s happening, it’s more about the emotions and a sense of doom.“

Filmed on a tight budget over the course of just one day and one evening around the Broadway Market area of Hackney, the result is an intriguing piece that demands repeat viewings. Taut and atmospheric, its intentions are no more clear six or seven replays later.

“What’s it all about? That’s the kind of question I get about a lot of my films!“ admits Ben. “They have these elements in them where they’re just unresolved questions. In a sense even for me.

“That doesn’t make it any easier does it? Still no explanation!“

The Eye video is available to view online at www.thedarklightsonline.com. For more information on Ben’s work visit www.benfredericks.co.uk

View on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10unG-y7uxY