Vertical has released the first teaser for Pendulum, a supernatural horror film starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor. The distributor has dated the film for a theatrical release on January 1, 2027.
Gordon-Levitt and Dynevor play Patrick and Abigail, a married couple who travel to a remote retreat in New Mexico after a traumatic event. Patrick becomes suspicious of the retreat’s leader while Abigail is increasingly drawn into the group’s practices. The story leaves the pair to decide whether the promised healing is genuine or conceals something more dangerous.
The retreat opens its doors
The teaser establishes the retreat through candlelit rituals, stark desert surroundings and increasingly disorienting images. It keeps the source of the threat deliberately uncertain, placing the tension between the group’s spiritual language and Patrick’s mistrust.
Mark Heyman wrote and directed Pendulum, marking his feature directing debut. Heyman’s prior screenwriting credits include Black Swan, which he co-wrote with Andres Heinz and John J. McLaughlin. Darren Aronofsky, Dave Caplan and Jacob Jaffke are listed as producers on the new film.
The cast also includes Jacki Weaver and Norman Reedus. Vertical’s official teaser and a contemporaneous report from ComingSoon agree on the principal cast, story setup and New Year’s Day release date.
The trailer does not explain the retreat’s methods or reveal whether the apparent supernatural activity is real within the film. That restraint gives the preview a clear hook without disclosing the answer. Pendulum opens in theaters January 1, 2027; no streaming date was included with the teaser announcement.