Norman Reedus Returns to Horror in New R-Rated Thriller Pendulum

Norman Reedus will always be known for his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead universe, but in recent years, he’s taken on other roles that have expanded his stardom to new levels. Last year, Reedus teamed up with Ana de Armas for the first John Wick spin-off movie, Ballerina, which bombed at the box office before going on to become one of the most-watched movies of 2025 and 2026 on streaming. Reedus also did some serious motion capture work through his collaboration with Hideo Kojima on both Death Stranding movies, but now that Kojima is moving on to work on Physint, it seems unlikely that another Death Stranding game is in the works. Reedus will also star opposite James Marsden in a new Apple TV spy thriller, Disavowed, which will likely be released sometime in 2027.

Long before Reedus suits up in the new Apple TV spy thriller, though, he’s been tapped to star in a new horror movie coming to theaters in less than two months. We’re talking, of course, about Pendulum, which will be released in theaters on January 1, 2027. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Phoebe Dynevor, Anna Deavere Smith, Jena Malone, and Jacki Weaver will also star in the film, which was written and directed by Mark Heyman. If Heyman’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he worked with Darren Aronofsky as the writer on Black Swan. This afternoon, Collider is happy to partner with Vertical to exclusively preview the first official trailer for Pendulum before it opens on New Year’s Day. Pendulum is rated R and clocks in with a runtime of 109 minutes, and for those who are interested in what exactly inspired the film, a full quote from writer/director Mark Heyman reads as follows:

"PENDULUM grew out of my upbringing in and around various spiritual groups and gurus that my parents explored in the ’70s and ’80s. The film was inspired by one of their stranger encounters, and much of it is true. Having experienced that world from the inside, I wanted to capture how people get drawn into these cultish groups—and the danger of surrendering yourself completely to the unknown. Like those gurus, the film blurs the line between the physical and supernatural realms. Only instead of trying to heal you, it’s going to freak you out.”

What Is ‘Pendulum’ About?

Pendulum was something of a Black Swan reunion for writer/director Mark Heyman, who had producer Darren Aronofsky to lean on for guidance during the production of the film. Heyman also produces the film along with Jacob Jaffke, Élan Klein Jaffke, Dave Caplan, Ari Handel, Elizabeth Gesas, and Will Greenfield. Vertical has released an official synopsis to go along with the release of the new trailer, which reads as follows: “In Mark Heyman's feature film directorial debut, married couple Patrick (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Abigail (Phoebe 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 (Jacki 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.”