Perry utilizes a more restrained, "sultry" and "foreboding" tone compared to her usual belting. Critical Consensus
Unlike typical pop songs, it lacks a traditional explosive chorus, instead opting for an "anti-chorus" that grinds to a halt after a melodic build-up, reverting back to a thudding bass drop.
Built on a "brooding, borderline sleazy" trap beat with a tempo of 132 BPM . It features an icy rhythm and heavy bassline that creates a "sense of mystery and power". Katy Perry Dark Horse
Some found the lyrics to be a " cliché salad " or "shoddily constructed," questioning metaphors like the singer wanting to be both a goddess and a giant storm. Juicy J’s verse was also polarizing, with some finding it a fitting addition and others criticizing "dopey" lyrics, including a controversial simile regarding Jeffrey Dahmer. Visuals and Cultural Impact
The song is a genre-bending "Southern rap-techno mashup" that blends . Perry utilizes a more restrained, "sultry" and "foreboding"
The music video, set in a stylized "Memphis, Egypt," features Perry as "".
Reviewers were largely split on the song’s experimental nature: It features an icy rhythm and heavy bassline
Many praised the bold production and the "creative" synthesizer sound. Critics from Billboard noted it allowed Perry to "score" by moving into the urban market without losing her pop fans.