Will even moviegoers with no “X-perience” fall for “The X-Files?”
It’s an important question. The $60 million movie version of writer-producer Chris Carter’s cult-hit TV paranoid horror-mystery show — about two sexy FBI agents who specialize in the paranormal and otherworldly — has a built-in audience of sometimes obsessively loyal fans. These “X-philes,” “X-perts” and “X-tremists” have, for the past five years, faithfully followed the flabbergasting investigations of tight-lipped, brainy agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson).
These fans know all the dark nooks and sinister crannies of Carter’s amazingly dense and consistent world. And they’ve watched in amazement as Mulder and Scully pick up and crack one improbable case after another, uncovering monsters, reincarnated killers, evil brains, deadly extraterrestrials and bizarre fiends of all varieties.
In increasing numbers — enough to push the show into the cult status of much older series like “Star Trek” and “The Twilight Zone” (and “The X-Files”‘ own main model, “The Night Stalker”) — they’ve puzzled over the show’s mysteries. They’ve mulled over the disappearance of Mulder’s sister, Samantha and pondered the real motives and identities of such enigmatic figures as The Cigarette-Smoking Man (William B. Davis) and The Well-Manicured Man (John Neville). Lately, they’ve been wondering about oily substances, mysterious bees and the question of just how vast and far-reaching a worldwide, extraterrestrial conspiracy poor Mulder and Scully are really up against.
In the movie “The X-Files,” those riddles are solved. The conspiracy is unraveled. Agents Mulder and Scully get to the bottom of things — including their feelings about each other. Zipping from northern Texas to Washington, D.C., to Antarctica, the hip duo find the plotters, learn what they’re plotting and spill enough secrets to satisfy even the wildest “X-centric.”
That should be reason enough for any “X-phile” to check in.
But what about the rest of us? All us “X-iles” who don’t know anything about The Syndicate, Rat Boy or Cancer Man? People who, like me, have to scurry to sources like the “X-Cyclopedia” or “X-Files Confidential” to find out what’s really happening here? Everyone who can’t recognize The Lone Gunmen (the show’s trio of conspiracy buffs) and can’t tell Sen. Richard Matheson (a series character named for the sci-fi writer and staff scenarist on “Twilight Zone” and “Night Stalker”) from Sen. Richard Lugar.
In a way, we’re out in the cold — though not completely. “The X-Files” has been designed more for series watchers than newcomers. But it’s an intriguing movie all the same, full of stunning effects, clever characters and offbeat set-pieces. Perhaps it bounces around too much and occasionally leaves us in the dark (which is probably where it wants us). But it’s written with relish (by Carter), acted with panache (by old regulars and newcomers like Martin Landau and Armin Mueller-Stahl) and directed with moody style by longtime series veteran Rob Bowman.
As we watch it, we can get caught up even in mysteries that remain a bit obscure and subtexts known only to faithful TV-watchers. And some of us, weaned on the largely senseless action-horror movies of the ’80s, may not care. The movie has enough visual zingers, enough “X-citement” to hook the action addict and cover any confusion.
But the movie “X-Files” will mean so much more to people who know the series well than to people who don’t, that I’m almost tempted to give it two separate ratings: (star) (star) (star) 1/2 for “X-Files” fans and (star) (star) 1/2 for everyone else. As you can see, I decided to split the difference. That’s because I also decided, after poring over “X” reference books, and digesting synopses of past shows, that I’d probably like the movie more a second time around.
One doesn’t want to give away any more plot here — except to say that Mulder and Scully are investigating something together, and it’s pretty drastic. But the cast is worth some recognition. Duchovny as believer agent Mulder — a wisecracker who accepts paranormal explanations because he believes his sister was abducted by aliens — has an effortless cool-guy irreverence and charm, even if he sometimes comes across like Richard Gere II or another Baldwin brother. Anderson, as the rationalist of the duo, the one who wants more proof, has a nice burning intensity. They’re an intelligent couple, which probably feeds the show’s special appeal.
John Neville, who was Terry Gilliam’s Baron Munchausen, has several stylish scenes as The Well-Manicured Man. And any movie with Armin Mueller-Stahl in the cast, even playing a (new) character called Strughold, has some acting greatness at its disposal.
The look of the movie has that grungy creepy virtuosity and shine you see in recent movies like “Seven”: the sleek mechanics and the palpable, oozing rot. The visual effects people also pull off a great cliffhanging scene, with the Antarctic snow crumbling behind Mulder and Scully as they flee bad guys and destruction.
In the end, the movie works, though it probably works most completely and richly for those familiar with the TV show. But Carter should have remembered something. Real buffs of a show like “The X-Files” never mind if a movie or a major episode goes over old ground and over-explains. They usually like the idea of initiating new audiences into the mysteries and “X-tasy.” But nobody likes walking into a party and being bewildered about all the guests and the games. After a while, they may even start looking for the “X-it.”
”THE X-FILES”
(star) (star) (star)
Directed by Rob Bowman; written by Chris Carter; photographed by Ward Russell; edited by Stephen Mark; production designed by Christopher Nowak; music by Mark Snow; visual effects supervisor Mat Beck; produced by Daniel Sackheim. A 20th Century Fox release; opens Friday. Running time: 2:02. MPAA rating: PG-13.
THE CAST
Agent Fox Mulder …………………. David Duchovny
Agent Dana Scully ………………… Gillian Anderson
Kurtzweil ……………………….. Martin Landau
Strughold ……………………….. Armin Mueller-Stahl
Cassidy …………………………. Blythe Danner
Assistant Director Walter Skinner ….. Mitch Pileggi
The Cigarette-Smoking Man …………. William B. Davis
The Well-Manicured Man ……………. John Neville
