Creative quotient
Based on the popular TV series The X-Files, this movie marks the return of the world’s most popular FBI couple Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson).

Agent Dakota Whitney (Amanda Peet) comes to seek Mulder’s expertise on a FBI case involving a Catholic Father Joseph Crissman (Billy Connolly). The FBI has doubts about the Father’s integrity and hence Mulder is asked to play the lie-detector. Thanks to his obsession with X-Files Mulder jumps in despite being retired. Scully, on the other hand, provides a contrast to Mulder’s approach through her religious inclinations and cynicism. Scully and Mulder are constantly at it and their conflicts create some funny as well as serious moments.

Scully is also shown working in a Catholic hospital trying to save a young boy from death. There are references to Scully’s dead son Alexander whose memory gees her up to save the life of this helpless lad.

More than a sci-fi film, the new X-Files movie plays on drama. It focusses on Mulder and Scully’s relationship and gives explanations about what happened to them after they retired from solving cases.

Technical expertise
The plot of the film is like a cookie ready to crumble and at times it’s falling into crumbs. The story is simple, but it’s too simple to host any chance of a feature film story. There are some edge-of-the-seat moments and the questionable characters sometimes display traits that could easily be labelled alien-like. But, at the end of the day it never grips you.

The film’s pace is slow and feels more as if two episodes of the TV series were merged into a single film.

The performances from Duchovny and Anderson are grade-one and the most redeeming features of the film. The climax of the film is too morose and abrupt. Nevertheless, fans of the X-Files series will be able to rejoice at the end product.