The song was written by the Weeknd, Max Martin, Oscar Holter, Carl Nordström and Swedish House Mafia; with Kevin McCord receiving songwriting credits for the sampling of the 1981 track "I Want to Thank You", performed by Alicia Myers.
At the end of the Weeknd's music video for Dawn FM's lead single "Take My Breath", a snippet of "Sacrifice" is heard.
[10] Heran Mamo of Billboard agreed, adding that the song is "the closest thing to a Michael Jackson record in the 21st century," claiming that it "resurrects the period-appropriate disco-funk".
It begins with the Weeknd, who is dazed and confused, being brought towards a theoretical light at the end of a tunnel; while a snippet of Dawn FM's title track, featuring narration by actor Jim Carrey, is played in the background.
As the cult members gather around him, a veiled female figure in a red cloak appears and takes his soul away.