DeConick A.D

294
THE PI OF POLITICS
point it at the bulging artery above his ear. We are horrified, sure now of
his insanity, as Max levers the spinning drill into his skull and destroys his
God center (figure 9.3).
The film quickly moves to the final scene, where we see Max at peace
for the first time in the movie, sitting quietly on a park bench. He is docile,
rehabilitated, the dangerous knowledge of God drilled out of his head.
Although Aranofsky’s film was marketed as an avant-garde occult film,
what we are left with after viewing the film is something very conventional.
It is a film that reinforces the orthodox stereotype of the hubristic,
dangerous Gnostic who lives on the border of insanity and schizophrenia.
Destruction of gnosis is what leads to peace.