Vertical Picks Up Aronofsky-Produced Horror 'Pendulum'
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- Vertical acquired North American distribution rights to Pendulum, the directorial debut of Black Swan screenwriter Mark Heyman, and set the horror film for a wide theatrical release on January 1, 2027.
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Phoebe Dynevor star as a married couple who travel to a New Mexico new-age retreat seeking healing after a traumatic event, with two-time Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver playing the retreat's enigmatic leader.
- Darren Aronofsky produced Pendulum for his Protozoa banner alongside Motel Mojave's Jacob Jaffke and C2's Dave Caplan, with C2 fully financing the film; Black Bear is handling international sales.
- Norman Reedus (Ballerina) joins the principal cast, while the below-the-line roster includes cinematographer Sharone Meir (Whiplash), editor Catrin Hedström (Candyman), and composer Ben Lovett (The Night House).
- The deal was negotiated by Vertical's Jarowey and SVP of Acquisitions Tony Piantedosi, with UTA Independent Film Group, CAA Media Finance, and WME Independent representing the filmmakers.
- Heyman described Pendulum as "deeply personal" and "inspired by real, and really scary, experiences," while Vertical partner Peter Jarowey said the company is "looking forward to ringing in 2027 by scaring the hell out of audiences."
Why it matters: The deal gives Vertical a prestige horror package with a January 1, 2027 wide release date, pairing an A-list director-producer pedigree — Darren Aronofsky producing, Mark Heyman directing — with bankable leads in Gordon-Levitt and Dynevor. For Vertical, the January 1 slot is a counter-programming bet against the usual holiday family films, while the C2-financed, Black Bear-handled international pipeline signals this was built for global theatrical returns, not just a streaming dump.
