A couple of years ago, it looked like P.T. Anderson’s next film The Master might never see the light of day as it had reportedly been put on hold indefinitely when the financing fell through. Fortunately, producer Megan Ellison stepped in to front the cash and The Weinstein Company won a bidding war to land the worldwide distribution rights. Now this week we have the very first teaser for the film, which would seem to indicate that things are on track for the previously announced October 12th release date.

So is it a trailer or is it a clip taken directly from the film? I’m not sure, but it does feature Joaquin Phoenix front and center, being questioned about his violent tendencies. It’s all pretty mysterious, and is backed by some slightly sinister music that (I assume) is also performed by There Will Be Blood composer Jonny Greenwood. We know that the movie is set in the 1950s and involves a “faith-based organization” of some sort, but that’s all we have to go on at this point. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Laura Dern also star, but there doesn’t appear to be any sign of them in the clip. Will The Master be a masterpiece? Check out the teaser after the jump and let us know what you think.