‘Pendulum’ Trailer has Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor Enter a Sinister Retreat

A fresh start can come at a terrifying price in Pendulum, the upcoming horror film that turns the promise of spiritual healing into a nightmare. The newly released trailer introduces Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor as a married couple whose search for recovery leads them into a disturbing new-age retreat in the New Mexico desert.

Directed and written by Mark Heyman, the film marks the feature directorial debut of the Oscar-nominated screenwriter known for his work on Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. With an unsettling premise, a high-profile cast and Darren Aronofsky among its producers, Pendulum is shaping up as one of the intriguing horror releases arriving at the start of 2027.

Vertical will release the R-rated film in theatres nationwide on January 1, 2027. The runtime is listed at 109 minutes.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor Face a Disturbing Retreat

In Pendulum, Gordon-Levitt plays Patrick, who travels with his wife Abigail, played by Dynevor, to a spiritual retreat after a traumatic experience. Hoping to help Abigail heal, Patrick initially approaches the experience with an open mind.

However, his confidence begins to collapse as he grows suspicious of the retreat’s mysterious leader, portrayed by Jacki Weaver. Abigail, meanwhile, becomes increasingly attracted to the group’s spiritual teachings, creating a growing divide between the couple.

The trailer hints at a disturbing atmosphere where the language of healing, enlightenment and eternal life begins to take a darker turn. What initially appears to be an opportunity for recovery gradually becomes a psychological battle, with Patrick questioning the people around him and the retreat’s true intentions.

The central mystery is whether the group’s unusual practices offer genuine healing or conceal something far more dangerous.

‘Black Swan’ Writer Mark Heyman Makes Directorial Debut

The film brings Mark Heyman into the director’s chair after years of work as a screenwriter and producer. His previous credits include Black Swan, the 2023 Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman, and producing roles on Darren Aronofsky films including The Wrestler and The Fountain.

Mark Heyman also has a personal connection to the story. In a statement, he revealed that Pendulum draws inspiration from his family history and real events connected to New Mexico, where he grew up.

He explained that filming in the state helped make the story feel more surreal and personal. Heyman also praised the performances of the cast, describing the project as a horror film he is particularly proud to bring to audiences.

His collaboration with Aronofsky continues on Pendulum, with the filmmaker serving as a producer through Protozoa Pictures.

Jacki Weaver, Norman Reedus and Jena Malone Join the Cast

Alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor, Pendulum features an ensemble cast that includes Jacki Weaver, Jena Malone, Norman Reedus and Anna Deavere Smith.

Weaver takes on the role of the retreat’s enigmatic leader, whose influence over Abigail becomes central to the story. Malone and Reedus add further familiar faces to a cast built around the film’s unsettling spiritual setting.

Aronofsky produces alongside Jacob Jaffke, Élan Klein Jaffke, Heyman, Dave Caplan, Ari Handel, Elizabeth Gesas and Will Greenfield.

‘Pendulum’ Sets an Unusual New Year Horror Release

Vertical is positioning Pendulum for a nationwide theatrical release on January 1, 2027. The New Year’s Day date gives the film an opportunity to open the year with a psychological horror story built around paranoia, spiritual manipulation and the fear of losing control.

With its combination of a disturbing wellness retreat, a strong cast and a story inspired by personal history, Pendulum aims to turn the search for inner peace into a frightening cinematic experience.

The new trailer offers the first substantial glimpse of that nightmare. Whether the retreat promises eternal life or something much more sinister, Patrick and Abigail’s journey looks set to become anything but a peaceful escape.