'I Want to Believe' is the final X-Files production (as of this writing); it stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprising their roles as the series mainstays Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. Chris Carter, the X-Files creator wrote and directed. 'PG-13' rating is for violence, and horror-ish images.
When people say 'X-Files' the natural tendency is to think of the ongoing alien and government conspiracy episodes -including the first movie. However, the strength of the show, in my opinion, was in the standalone episodes where Mulder and Scully would investigate a case that defied typical scientific explanation, whether paranormal or supernatural (outside of anything extraterrestrial), and are typically referred to as the 'monster of the week' X-Files episodes. I Want to Believe resembled one of these monster of the week episodes, as opposed to the alien conspiracy arc.
**spoiler alert**
The basic premise of this film is that FBI is investigating some kidnappings in Virginia, the most recent of which is an FBI agent named Monica Bannan. Agent Drummy (Xzibit) convinces Scully, now working as a doctor in Catholic hospital, and Mulder, living in seclusion since the end of the last episode of the show (6 years ago), to assist them in the case because of a paranormal aspect. Father Joe Crissman (Billy Connolly), a former priest, claims to be having visions of the crimes, however, he has a bit of a credibility issue due to his former molestation of 37 alter boys. Despite this fact, Father Joe continues to assist to find Agent Bannan, but another woman is soon abducted. During the search of a snow covered field for the newest victim, Father Joe having a vision leads the group to a burial site full of different victim's body parts. Scully and Mulder do the proverbial split up to work different angles of the case, as well as some soul-searching in Scully's case. Eventually it is discovered that an eastern European "doctor" was harvesting limbs and organs, and successfully making Frankenstein-like transplants onto animals and humans. Several lives are lost by the end, but Mulder and Scully live for possible reunion.
What I Liked: This movie really highlights the best of the 'golden years' of the X-Files, and why I enjoyed the show so much. This was a very good story with a touch of sci-fi as well as horror; Mulder and Scully are forced to think outside of their comfort zones - both working the case, and in their personal lives; this combined with elements that elements meant to make even the audience uncomfortable, like the police receiving help from a sexual predator, and visuals like the people harvesting organs.
Billy Connolly did an excellent job as Father Joe, playing the damaged former priest, and now possibly seeking redemption. Anderson and Duchovny turning in very good performances as their returning characters, with Anderson maybe even stepping up her game from the end of the TV series. The scenes, script and material felt tense and dark, which held my attention throughout - they were also disturbing without being horror movie gruesome.
I felt the continuity and connection the former show was appropriate, which is often not the case when doing sequels after a long lay-off, or making a TV to movie transition. Mulder and Scully had aged slightly, and they did not approach the case as if they were back running the X-Files, which could have been an easy trap to fall into. Carter deserves credit for that.
Negatives:
- This film was released almost 6 years after the final TV episode had aired, and I think that the interest in the show and characters had dwindled except among the die-hard fans. Apparently there were production and contract hold ups which led to the prolonged delay. This in and of itself is not a criticism, but more that I am acknowledging items that may have led to the lukewarm response it got from both the box office and from other critics.
- I feel like the first three quarters of the movie were near spot-on perfect, but that the ending felt just a little too forced, and equally predictable. Once Mulder ventured off on his own, it seemed like it played out exactly like dozens of the X-Files episodes, complete with stupid decision making on his part and then a not-so-believable confrontation with the bad guy. This did not ruin the movie because it really unfolded in manner which we expect it to, but it was just a little of bit of a let down after the previous set up.
- Strangely there was a vast collection of politically hot issues as elements in this film including: religion versus science/ medicine; gay marriage; child molestation by clergy; law enforcement using psychics; and medical experimentation. I understand why several of these points were used - to contrast one another, but it just seemed to me as if several of these topics were thrown out there for the sake of throwing them out as opposed to using them as strong plot drivers.
Recommendation:
Fans of the series "should" like this, as it is another opportunity to see Mulder and Scully back again in a well acted, "old school" X-Files plot. I will note that expectations for different people may have potentially ruined their viewing, considering how the show ended and the subsequent desire to see more of the alien conspiracy arc. For non-fans, this is still very watchable, as none of the X-Files history comes into play.
I consider myself a fan of the show, and I feel this film is as good as any of the episodes in the heyday of the X-Files, so I highly recommend seeing it.
While I like the idea of Chris Carter tying off the alien story arc with (possibly) another film, I would feel just as good if he left it alone, and did not try to force a bad movie and script into production.
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