Forget the champagne—Vertical wants you to ring in 2027 with a side of cult-induced paranoia. It has officially snapped up the North American rights to Pendulum, the directorial debut of Mark Heyman (Black Swan screenplay), Deadline reports.
A true purveyor of psychological discomfort, Darren Aronofsky (The Whale) produces alongside the teams behind Longlegs and the X trilogy. This New Mexico-set thriller is scheduled for a wide theatrical release on New Year’s Day.
Wellness or Wickedness?
The story follows Patrick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Abigail (Phoebe Dynevor). The couple, reeling from a traumatic event, journeys to a high-end, new-age retreat in the desert seeking healing.
Abigail quickly falls under the spell of the group’s enigmatic leader, played by two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver. However, Patrick’s “skeptic” alarm starts blaring. As paranoia sets in, the line between spiritual enlightenment and a terrifying government-grade meltdown begins to blur.
A Pedigree of Dread
The cast alone is enough to justify the price of admission, featuring Norman Reedus (“The Walking Dead”) alongside the central trio. But it’s the talent behind the lens that suggests Pendulum will be more than just a jump-scare factory:
Mark Heyman, whose work on Black Swan proved he knows how to make “losing one’s mind” look like an Olympic sport.
Cinematographer Sharone Meir (Whiplash, Monkey Man) ensures the New Mexico landscape looks as hostile as the cult.
Ben Lovett provides the score that creates the haunting atmosphere for The Night House.
Catrin Hedström, fresh off the tactile brutality of the Candyman reboot, is editing the film.
Why You Should Be Excited
Heyman describes the film as “deeply personal,” inspired by “really scary” real-life experiences. When the guy who wrote Black Swan says something is “really scary,” it’s time to pay attention. Vertical partner Peter Jarowey isn’t holding back either, promising the film will “scare the hell out of audiences” to kick off the new year.
Between the Aronofsky seal of approval and a cast that knows their way around a thriller, Pendulum looks like the perfect antidote to a little too much holiday cheer. Mark your calendars for New Year’s Day—and maybe skip the “wellness retreat” resolution this year.
