Healing can come at a cost and in Pendulum, one couple’s search for a fresh start may lead them somewhere they can never return from.
The line between spiritual awakening and psychological manipulation begins to blur in the newly unveiled trailer for Pendulum, an upcoming horror thriller bringing together Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper), Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton), Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), and Jacki Weaver (Animal Kingdom).
Written and directed by Mark Heyman, the film arrives with an intriguing creative force behind it. Enter acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, known for his psychologically charged work on Black Swan, The Wrestler, and The Whale. With a story built around grief, belief, and the unsettling possibility of losing control of reality, Pendulum looks ready to take audiences into a chilling exploration of vulnerability and the darker side of seeking enlightenment. Vertical will bring the film to theaters nationwide on January 1st, 2027.
A Search For Healing Becomes A Psychological Nightmare
At the center of Pendulum are married couple Patrick (Gordon-Levitt) and Abigail (Dynevor), who travel to a secluded New Mexico retreat following a shared tragedy. Hoping to find peace and rebuild their lives, the couple becomes immersed in a close-knit new-age community led by Ella-Rose (Weaver), a charismatic spiritual healer whose influence over her followers appears almost unquestionable.
But what begins as an opportunity for healing gradually takes a disturbing turn. As Abigail becomes increasingly drawn to Ella-Rose and the community’s unconventional practices, Patrick grows suspicious of the people surrounding his wife. The deeper he looks, the more difficult it becomes to separate genuine spiritual devotion from something potentially dangerous.
Is Abigail being pulled into a manipulative cult, or is Patrick beginning to lose his own grip on reality? That uncertainty becomes the driving force behind the film’s psychological tension. With their marriage and sense of security hanging in the balance, Patrick must uncover what is really happening before the search for healing costs him everything.
Darren Aronofsky and Mark Heyman Reunite For A Disturbing New Vision
One of the most interesting elements surrounding Pendulum is the creative relationship between Heyman and Aronofsky, whose collaborations stretch back years.
Heyman previously worked as an assistant on The Fountain, co-produced The Wrestler, co-wrote the screenplay for Black Swan, and served as an executive producer on mother!. His work alongside Aronofsky on Black Swan earned the pair a BAFTA-nominated screenplay, further establishing a creative partnership rooted in stories that explore obsession, identity, and psychological instability.
Heyman’s filmmaking and writing credits also extend beyond the Aronofsky universe. He co-wrote the comedy-drama The Skeleton Twins with director Craig Johnson, worked on the Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, and created Paramount+’s Strange Angel, a series exploring the life of rocket scientist Jack Parsons and his connection to occultist Aleister Crowley.
That genre-spanning background makes Pendulum an intriguing next chapter for Heyman. With Aronofsky’s influence in the production mix, the film has the potential to explore its horror through more than conventional scares, leaning into the psychological and emotional fractures that can emerge when people are searching for answers.
A Cast Ready To Explore The Unsettling
Gordon-Levitt and Dynevor lead the film as a couple navigating grief and an increasingly fractured reality, while Weaver takes on the role of Ella-Rose, the spiritual figure at the center of the retreat’s mysterious influence.
Reedus also joins the cast, alongside Anna Deavere Smith and Jena Malone, adding further familiar talent to the ensemble. The film is produced by Darren Aronofsky, Jacob Jaffke, Élan Klein Jaffke, Will Greenfield, Mark Heyman, and Dave Caplan.
Pendulum Swings Into Theaters January 2027
With its secluded setting, mysterious spiritual community, and a marriage pushed toward its breaking point, Pendulum looks to tap into a particularly unsettling kind of horror the fear of not knowing who or what to trust.
The trailer introduces a story where the promise of transformation may conceal something much darker, leaving audiences to question whether the real danger lies within the retreat or in the minds of those desperate to escape their past.
Vertical is set to release Pendulum exclusively in theaters nationwide on January 1st, 2027. Will you be stepping into the retreat when Pendulum arrives in theaters? Watch the trailer and let us know whether this psychological horror thriller has your attention.