News
Writers’ Picks: Our Favorite Episodes of The X-Files
I know I have mentioned it in past articles but I LOVE The X-Files. My dad got me hooked to aliens by playing XCOM UFO Defense and my curiosity has only increased (see People of Earth). As soon as I saw even the very first episode of The X-Files, I was in love, and not just with Agent Mulder.
This show had everything: aliens, conspiracies, supernatural creatures, ghosts, serial killers and comedy. I think every actor popular today had a cameo on that show. When I heard they were coming back with a six-episode season 10, I became a kid on Christmas. It was everything we hoped and it ended on an insane cliffhanger.
There are rumors floating everywhere of an 11th season and I am crossing my fingers so hard, they may very well snap off. You can imagine how difficult it is to type this with my fingers like that. I WANT TO BELIEVE! So, in the spirit of hope and celebration of the premier of season 10 on this day last year, I’ve gathered some of my fellow X-Philes to present some of our favorite go-to episodes from all 10 seasons.
The Host S02E02
One of the most memorable episodes, to me, is “The Host”. You may not remember the name, but I’ll bet you remember the Flukeman. That creature design was… something else. Pair that slimy terror with an open-ended conclusion and my 7-year-old self was scared shitless. The Flukeman haunted my dreams and made every trip to the washroom absolutely terrifying. So, basically, I love it. –Kelly McNeely
Blood S02E03
Some of the best X-Files episodes are the ones that don’t have a clear conclusion. Be it supernatural or government conspiracy, there’s a special kind of fear to seeing Mulder and Scully being so powerless in the face of one of their cases. Such as this one in Franklin, Pennsylvania where ordinary citizens are suddenly going berserk and engaging in killing sprees.
As Mulder digs deeper, he discovers a link between a new pesticide and electronics that seems to play on people’s fears until they’re pushed to the breaking point. All while following one nebbish postal worker named Edward Funsch (played by William Sanderson of BLADE RUNNER) who repeatedly resists the push by the strange electronic force trying to get his to kill.
An unsettling episode about government experimentation (citing DDT use being hailed as harmless in the 50’s) and people going “postal” which is sadly as relevant as ever. –Jacob Davison
Paper Clip S03E02
I have always been partial to the conspiracy episodes, and “Paper Clip” may have been the mother lode. Beyond powerful men meeting in darkened rooms while Mulder and Scully pour over hordes of secret medical files in a West Virginia mountain, nothing was more delicious than the showdowns between The Smoking Man (William B. Davis) and Skinner (Mitch Pileggi).
Davis’ calm, threatening arrogance mixed with Pileggi’s seething disdain created an intensity that lept off the screen. “This is where you pucker up and kiss my ass.” To call it pure magic would not be inaccurate. – Landon Evanson
Check out Landon’s article on an interview with The Smoking Man.
Home S04E02
For The X-Files, my favorite episode is “Home”. As the first episode to receive a viewer discretion warning for graphic content, it’s pretty shocking. It’s brutally violent with horrific content, but on a lighter note, there are some really lovely Mulder and Scully moments! –Kelly McNeely
Bad Blood S05E12
My favorite is a “monster of the week” episode, but not for the monster. This episode captures everything we love about Mulder and Scully’s dynamic as polar opposites. Seeing how they view each other through their own lens is hilarious as they each tell their own recollections of the same situation. Not to mention a drugged Mulder makes a very memorable Shaft reference! –Piper Minear
X-Cops S07E12
One of my absolute favorites is “X-Cops”, a delightful “monster of the week” episode. Mulder and Scully get caught up in an episode of Cops after a cop being filmed gets a call about a giant animal running loose. Obviously, when Mulder and Scully are on the case, it’s not your run of the mill dog, cat, or grizzly bear running around.
Besides how different from other episodes it is, this one is great because it’s just so damn funny. There’s a scene involving a 911 call from a couple who’s seen a possible attack and as our favorite agents are leaving the house, a laugh escapes Mulder that you can FEEL is real. When you know the actors had fun recording an episode, it really shows. Amid the story lines of conspiracy, aliens and illness, this one is lighthearted and entertaining. –D.D. Crowley
Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster S10E03
This episode is from the all-too-short release of episodes last year. It includes some of my favorite people along side Mulder and Scully: Kumail Nanjiani (superfan of the show, The X-Files Files) and Rhys Darby (What We Do in the Shadows). After finding a body, the dynamic duo is looking for the strange creature attributed for the crime.
However, things are not what they seem. It’s a vague description, but trust me, you don’t want this spoiled. It has a great twist ending and is THE funniest episode I have ever seen of this show. Even though its placement is odd in the theme of season ten, it was a wonderful little break in the drama. –D.D. Crowley
Now go, binge and find the episodes that speak to you. Seasons 1-9 of The X-Files are available on Netflix right now. Afterward, you too will know that “the truth is out there.”
Featured image courtesy of screenrant.com
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Editorial
7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch
The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.
The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.
We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.
Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?
Scream Live (2023)
Ghostface (2021)
Ghost Face (2023)
Don’t Scream (2022)
Scream: A Fan Film (2023)
The Scream (2023)
A Scream Fan Film (2023)
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Movies
Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month
Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.
Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.
According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.
Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.
Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.
Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.
While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.
According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”
The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.
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Movies
Part Concert, Part Horror Movie M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’ Trailer Released
In true Shyamalan form, he sets his film Trap inside a social situation where we aren’t sure what is going on. Hopefully, there is a twist at the end. Furthermore, we hope it’s better than the one in his divisive 2021 movie Old.
The trailer seemingly gives away a lot, but, as in the past, you can’t rely on his trailers because they are often red herrings and you are being gaslit to think a certain way. For instance, his movie Knock at the Cabin was completely different than what the trailer implied and if you hadn’t read the book on which the film is based it was still like going in blind.
The plot for Trap is being dubbed an “experience” and we aren’t quite sure what that means. If we were to guess based on the trailer, it’s a concert movie wrapped around a horror mystery. There are original songs performed by Saleka, who plays Lady Raven, a kind of Taylor Swift/Lady Gaga hybrid. They have even set up a Lady Raven website to further the illusion.
Here is the fresh trailer:
According to the synopsis, a father takes his daughter to one of Lady Raven’s jam-packed concerts, “where they realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event.”
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Trap stars Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills and Allison Pill. The film is produced by Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock and M. Night Shyamalan. The executive producer is Steven Schneider.
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