The music video, co-directed by Cyrus, is a "goth bus" road trip packed with 80s punk-glam references and tour bus debauchery. It received praise on IMDb for its high-energy visuals, even with its intentional "low production value" aesthetic.
The track is a mix of dark pop , glam rock , and nu-disco , bridging the gap between Cyrus's Plastic Hearts rock era and Lipa's Future Nostalgia disco sound. Miley Cyrus - Prisoner ft. Dua Lipa
While Rolling Stone hailed it as a perfect split of their styles, Variety was less impressed, calling it a "spun-synth-sugar mess" that lacked originality. The music video, co-directed by Cyrus, is a
The song explores feeling "locked up" or trapped in toxic emotional cycles. Critical Consensus While Rolling Stone hailed it as a perfect
Reviewers from NME note heavy 1980s nostalgia, specifically referencing Olivia Newton-John’s "Physical" and the rock-tinged energy of Joan Jett .
Some fans and critics on platforms like Reddit wished for grittier, more "live" sounding drums to match the rock theme, feeling the studio version was slightly too polished. Visual Impact