Vertical has acquired North American distribution rights to the horror film Pendulum, the directorial debut of Mark Heyman, the BAFTA®-nominated writer of Black Swan.

In Heyman’s script, 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.

The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper), Phoebe Dynevor (Fair Play), Norman Reedus (Ballerina), Jena Malone (The Boroughs), and two-time Academy Award® nominee Jacki Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook).

Vertical is setting Pendulum for a wide release on January 1, 2027.