SCI FI PI

Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly, Amanda Peet, Xzibit.
Director: Chris Carter
Released July 24
Rated M


This is X-Files soup, good and hearty. No vampires, no explosions. Creepy, a little bit supernatural (but not a lot) and a really close look at the clash of science and faith. This isn't so much a 'monster of the week' X-Files episode made big, but a story about a doctor and an ex-FBI kook who join forces to solve a snowbound mystery.

Well, first things first. The footage that you were so worried about that had been released on the internet is actually all from the first four minutes. So no real spoilers there.

The other major worries - Mulls and Sculls. Have no fear. They're both looking great! The film is set in 'real time' - so the years since we've seen them on TV and on the big screen have passed for the characters as well, meaning, of course, that the actors look like they should.

It's a bit tricky to talk about how the film starts, or how we meet the main characters, because to be honest, the 'where are they now?' question is something that deserves to remain unanswered, especially for the fans.

And yes, all your other questions are answered (with some dead pan panache!).

So what can you expect (in a spoiler -free zone)? The film is set mainly in 'West Virginia' in winter, so it's quite the blend of bleak white landscapes and rather disturbing action. Lots of night action and some pretty grisly and disturbing moments provide chills. There's some excellent Hitchcockian tension built up and the script is of the standard that you'd expect from the team that brought you a decade of quality TV.

That said, the film doesn't have the epic feel of the previous film. It's 'smaller' in many ways, and the supernatural element is toned down to a bare minimum. Billy Connolly (as you've guessed from the trailer) is a psychic who is helping the FBI track down a victim, and that's as 'ooo-wee-ooo' as it gets.

Although, there is a twist, and whilst it's not filled with mythical creatures, or E.T., the 'monster' end of the film is pretty damned satisfying.

Gillian Anderson hardly seems to have aged at all, and David Duchovny is still trim. He does suffer for the first half of his performance with a 'I can't grow a beard' fake beard, which is a little too hilarious at times for the film's good. Gillian Anderson has to compete for screen time with her own mesmerising hair, but after a while you can settle down and let it fade into the background.

Both leads are convincing, which is crucial, as the film revolves them, not just as investigators, but as people. Crucially, the relationship stuff isn't hammered by the voice-over musings that used to render some X-Files a wee bit tedious. There's also a few spots of humour to liven things up.

Supporting players are for the most part, excellent, with Billy Connolly providing the platform for one hell of a character and Callum Keith Rennie (who many will recognise as the Cylon Leobon Conoy from Battlestar Galactica) does 'bad guy' very well.

Xzibit and Amanda Peet provide the up-and-down FBI agents who, in a way, echo the partnership of Sculls and Mulls, as they team up on the investigation, but they are the supporting act, and that's that (even if Peet looks like she's ready to join the 'Team Mulder' from the get-go!). Xzibit's character is perhaps a little too one dimensional to give any acting ability he may be hiding, a chance.

The script has a few holes and stretches that may irk some, but there are some great decisions about how much to explain and reveal, and for the most part, it's pretty successful. One grating thing though - after so many years together, Dana and Fox still refer to each other by their last names, which just doesn't seem right, given what they've been through (in their previously adventures! - no spoilers here).

The real success of the film comes from the the central question posed by the film's title. The two main characters want to 'believe' in things beyond the world of man, but from different angles, and for different reasons. It's far more complex than the show's original 'he spooky, she solid' set up (although, of course, that's still there). The film is highly satisfying for X-Files fans (and in particular, 'shippers') and should provide a solid murder mystery with a twist for those unfamiliar with the show.

Die-hards, do stay till the end of the credits for a treat. And yes, they could make another film if this one has box office legs - the team is still strong.


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