Produced by Darren Aronofsky and written and directed by Black Swan screenwriter Mark Heyman, the psychological horror film Pendulum is pulling back the curtain with its unsettling first teaser trailer.

Pendulum will arrive exclusively in theaters from Vertical Entertainment on January 1, 2027.

The film recently received an R rating from the MPA for “some strong/bloody violent content, sexuality, drug use, nudity, and language,” hinting at the disturbing territory Heyman’s debut feature is headed toward.

The cast includes Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception), Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton), Jacki Weaver (Bird Box), and Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead).

In Pendulum, married couple Patrick (Gordon-Levitt) and Abigail (Dynevor) travel to a mysterious New Mexico retreat in search of healing following a traumatic event. Patrick is determined to help his wife, but his unease grows as he begins questioning the retreat’s enigmatic leader (Weaver).

While Abigail becomes increasingly drawn into the group’s teachings, Patrick starts to suspect that their supposed path to spiritual healing may be hiding something far more sinister.

As paranoia takes hold, the couple must uncover whether the retreat’s unconventional practices can truly heal them—or whether something terrifying is waiting beneath the surface.

Aronofsky produces the film through his Protozoa Pictures banner.

For Heyman, the project is also deeply connected to his own past.

“This movie is deeply personal and inspired by my family lore,” Heyman said. “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.”

The filmmaker added that working with the cast made Pendulum a horror movie he is “immensely proud of,” teasing the film as a “freaky head trip” for audiences when it hits theaters at the start of 2027.

Watch the teaser trailer for Pendulum above.