Danielle Panabaker will star opposite Amber Heard in "The Ward," a psychological horror thriller that John Carpenter is directing for Echo Lake Entertainment and A Bigger Boat.

The story follows a girl (Heard) who is admitted to a psychiatric ward, meets other girls there with distinct personalities and discovers a mysterious girl haunting the halls at night.

Panabaker plays a patient in the institution, a snobbish girl who flirts with orderlies and faces electroshock therapy.

Mamie Gummer ("Taking Woodstock") also has been cast as a patient.

Michael and Shawn Rasmussen wrote the script, with revisions by Jim Agnew and Sean Keller.

Doug Mankoff, Peter Block, Mike Marcus and Andrew Spaulding are producing. Principal photography is scheduled to begin next month in Spokane, Wash.

FilmNation is handling international sales for the film.

Panabaker, repped by UTA and Management 360, most recently starred in the hit remake "Friday the 13th." She recently wrapped production on Overture's "The Crazies" and is in production on the indie drama "Weakness."