Pendulum

Pendulum is a horror-thriller written and directed by Mark Heyman, the screenwriter behind Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, with Aronofsky producing through his Protozoa Pictures banner. The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Patrick and Phoebe Dynevor (Bridgerton) as Abigail, a young couple drawn to a new-age retreat in New Mexico seeking healing after a traumatic event. Patrick is willing to do anything to help his wife but grows distrustful of the retreat's enigmatic leader even as Abigail falls deeper under her spell. Norman Reedus plays the couple's friend who introduces them to the retreat, and two-time Academy Award nominee Jacki Weaver rounds out the principal cast. Filming began in April 2025 in New Mexico, with the state's desert landscapes serving as the atmospheric backdrop for the cult-like retreat setting. The production is fully financed by C2, with Dave Caplan (who also produced Longlegs) producing alongside Jacob Jaffke (MaXXXine) and Elan Klein Jaffke for Motel Mojave. The project is packaged by CAA. Heyman's directorial approach draws on his experience crafting psychological tension for Aronofsky -- Black Swan earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Pendulum was rated R for strong/bloody violent content, sexuality, drug use, nudity, and language. With its pedigree of horror talent behind and in front of the camera, the film represents one of the most anticipated genre projects filming in New Mexico in 2025.