Pi (1998)

Pi (1998) is a compact, intense psychological thriller that blends drama, horror and mystery around a single obsessive mind. You follow Max Cohen, a reclusive mathematical prodigy who believes that all of nature can be reduced to numerical patterns. Living alone in a cramped Manhattan apartment, he builds a homemade supercomputer to hunt for a “key” number that could explain everything — or at least predict the stock market. His work attracts dangerous attention from both a ruthless Wall Street firm and a fanatical Hasidic sect, while Max’s chronic migraines, hallucinations and growing paranoia push him to the edge. Watching Pi is a visceral experience: the film’s stark, high-contrast visuals, jittery camera work and rapid edits create a claustrophobic, feverish atmosphere, and the pulsating electronic score heightens the sense of dread. The narrative moves like a puzzle — mathematical theory, mysticism and conspiracy collide — and the result is an unsettling, cerebral ride that asks whether ultimate patterns bring truth or madness. Expect tension, intellectual provocation, surreal imagery, and an unsettling emotional intensity rather than easy answers.

Actors: Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman

Director: Darren Aronofsky

Runtime: 84 min

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery

72 /100 7.3 /10 7.2 /10