Where to watch The X-Files: Fight the Future
4 Stars
With problems appearing between FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, a dangerous conspiracy is starting to appear. A deadly virus, which appears to be of extraterrestrial origin has appeared, which could destroy all life on Earth. With the help of a paranoid doctor, Alvin Kurtzweil, Mulder and Scully must act fast in order to save everyone on the planet.
The X-Files series successfully transitions from television to feature-length film with a terrifically satisfying piece of entertainment. The movie is a tense, engaging supernatural thriller that mixes in a paranoid vibe prevalent in 1970s cinema. Duchovny and Anderson reprise their iconic roles in this big-screen adaptation. The screenplay, while dedicated to the unfolding mystery of the plot, saves room for romance between the two. Chris Carter, who created the X-Files series, is also a co-writer on this film project, and to his and director Rob Bowman’s credit, the movie doesn’t play like an extended episode.
“Fight the Future” works on two levels; those unfamiliar with the exploits of Scully and Mulder can come in and won’t be left in the cold while also delivering big payoffs for hardcore fans of The X Files. Spielberg’s Close Encounters is the obvious inspiration here, but there is also a dark undercurrent suggesting a global conspiracy to keep a horrendous secret from the population en masse. In hindsight, 1998 would be the high-water mark for the popularity of The X Files, and this movie is the creative peak of the ongoing storyline that played out over 11 seasons and two films.
Directed by: Rob Bowman
Written by: Chris Carter, Frank Spotnitz
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, John Neville