There is no such thing as death. At least, that’s according to the first teaser trailer for Pendulum, an upcoming horror flick written and directed by Mark Heyman (Black Swan) and produced by Darren Aronofsky. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper), Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton), Norman Reedus (Ballerina), and Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook)
The Pendulum teaser leaves things fairly vague, but the official description has a few more details. The film follows “married couple Patrick (Gordon-Levitt) and Abigail (Dynevor) journey to a new-age retreat in New Mexico, drawn by the possibility of healing after a traumatic event. Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife, but becomes distrustful of the retreat’s enigmatic leader (Weaver) even as Abigail falls under her spell. As paranoia builds, the couple must determine if the group’s spiritual practices offer genuine healing – or mask a terrifying truth that threatens to consume them both.“
In a statement, writer/director Mark Heyman said, “This movie is deeply personal and inspired by my family lore. Shooting it in New Mexico, where I grew up and the real events took place, elevated every scene and made it all the more surreal. Add to that a cast firing on all cylinders, and you have a horror movie I’m immensely proud of and excited to unleash on audiences come the new year. What better way to ring in 2027 than with a freaky head trip?“
Vertical has slated Pendulum for a January 1, 2027 release.
Gordon-Levitt has actually been a little under the radar over the last year, at least when it comes to appearing in films. He did make his customary voice cameo in Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man, but that was his sole movie appearance in 2025. The prior year, he was featured in the crime comedy Greedy People, the neo-noir mystery Killer Heat, and the action comedy Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
He is stepping behind the camera for 2034, an AI thriller that recently kicked off production in Belgrade. The film stars Rachel McAdams (Send Help), Jeff Daniels (The Brink of War), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things), and Nnamdi Asomugha (The Good Nurse).