Indie horror game Mouthwashing is driving unexpected attention to Imogen Heap's 2006 song "Headlock" through viral TikTok fan animations.

Released on September 26, 2024, by developer Wrong Organ, Mouthwashing follows five crew members aboard the starship Tuplar. After their ship crashes, the crew survives by consuming their cargo of mouthwash bottles, leading to insanity and horrific consequences.

The game's dedicated fanbase has created a unique trend by pairing character moments with "Headlock" lyrics, similar to how fans once synchronized Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon with The Wizard of Oz. For example, fans connect the lyric "You've been walking, you've been hiding, and you look half dead all the time" to the character Jimmy's betrayal of his crew.

Key character connections include:

• Curly's storyline about avoiding life goals resonates with the song's themes about being stuck in old ways
• Jimmy's deceptive behavior matches lyrics about hiding and appearing half-dead
• The overall psychological horror elements complement the song's introspective tone

This fan interpretation phenomenon has resulted in significant streaming increases for "Headlock," establishing it as an unofficial anthem within the Mouthwashing community.

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