The X Files was so consistently good, that discussions concerning the ‘best’ episodes can end up being more like a complete episodic list itself. When going back to enjoy the best of the series, it may be wise to divide the best episodes into categories. There are the obvious engaging and popular so-called “mytharc” episodes-those that follow the continuing storyline of government conspiracy co-mingled with alien abduction. Other obvious categories with brilliant episodes include: the black comedy episodes, the guest star episodes, and the monster-of-the-week episodes.
For die hard X Files fans like myself, who perhaps have rather pathetically seen each episode dozens of times, more subtle and personal categories seem to emerge and trump the obvious ones. And just in time for Halloween, below are my choices for the most outstanding creepiest X Files episodes of all. They are creepy for different reasons, some are gory, some are psychologically and profoundly disturbing. All are available on DVD at venues like Netflix and Blockbuster; I have designated them by title, season, and disc number so they are easy to find.
Be warned there may be mild spoilers in the descriptions-my assumption is that readers have previously viewed the episodes.
Irresistible–Season 2, disc 4
This is the only episode that ever truly disturbed me. It is known as the first of the few non-paranormal themed episodes, but the subject is so horrendous, and it is executed so well, it makes for quite the creepshow. Agents Scully and Mulder are called in by an overwhelmed small town official who believes there is evidence of cattle and human-corpse mutilation.
Almost unfortunately, Mulder immediately recognizes the signs of an escalating “death fetishist” at work. The part of the the fetishist was originally written to be a full blown necrophiliac, but had to be changed in accordance with FOX’s standards. Knowing this gives the episode such a subtext and restraint that it makes it even creepier. It doesn’t actually change the story-it’s obvious what’s going on. It’s just that the truth is way too out there.
Nick Chinlund as the fired-funeral-home-worker and uber perverse serial killer Donnie Pfaster is one of the entire series’ outstanding and memorable character performances. He is the very platonic form of ‘creep’, and he has mega- cooties with his affected gentle demeanor juxtaposed with his unspeakable behavior. The sick scene with stolen, decayed funeral wreaths and regalia displayed in his bedroom changed me forever in a small way.
Home-Season 4, disc 1
This episode has the distinction of being the only one to come with a parental warning, (TV-MA) and because of it’s controversial subject matter, it aired only in syndication. It is another non-paranormal episode, and was the first of a few horror-flick-inspired ones. It is arguably the darkest of the dark comedy episodes, but certainly makes the list of creepiest.
Mulder and Scully travel to Home, Pennsylvania trying to uncover the murder of a horribly malformed infant who has been buried alive. They investigate the reclusive and profoundly inbred Peacock family, and find all manner of disturbing backwood surprises.
Badlaa-Season 8, Disc 3
While this storyline is rather par-for-the-course as far as the X Files’ monster-of-the-week episodes go, there are some very creepy elements. A legless Indian beggar has the apparent ability to inhabit others’ bodies, by a murderous and violent method. The plot line centers on figuring out the mystery of his motive and manner of his mystical possessive abilities–the creepiness has to do with the beggar’s ironically terrifying presence. He is very small and completely mute, and the squeakiness of the little rolling cart he uses to get around becomes so ominous it hurts. There is also a great scene in which he escapes Alien-style out of the abdomen of a corpse during an autopsy.
The Host-Season 2, disc 1
This episode may take the cake for creepiest and most memorable and honored X Files monster of all time. The parasitic “Flukeman” is born of ” a primordial soup of radioactive sewage” and lives in the New Jersey sewer system. There are major gross out scenes here, including a sanitation worker who pukes up a worm while brushing his teeth. This episode also notable in that it first introduces the character ‘X’ -one of Mulder’s several mysterious informants.
Daemonicus-Season 9, disc 1
This episode is very well conceived and executed, and with its great horror genre effects, deserves a place among the creepiest of the X Files. There is an overt ‘game’ motif, which is also nicely symbolized throughout the story in imagery. The story opens as a couple play Scrabble. Later, an ariel view shows key characters in the foyer of an asylum, moving like pawns on a black and white tiled checkerboard floor. Toward the end, another ariel view shows a perpetrator in his asylum cell moving along a tic tac toe windowpane/light pattern of the floor.
There is a projectile vomiting blood/ectoplasm scene that has to be seen to be believed, snakes slithering out of a chest cavity, and a face full of syringes.
