THE X-FILES
An exciting conspiracy thriller with compelling heroes and moderate scares.
Should You Watch It?
If you enjoy science-fiction thrillers, THE X-FILES gives you a creepy, paranoid adventure with two sincere heroes worth following. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson make Mulder and Scully compelling partners as they investigate a conspiracy involving powerful human leaders and mysterious alien invaders.
The movie has a strong moral center. It sides with goodness, truth, liberty, and self-sacrifice. Its language stays moderate for a PG-13 film, and it contains no implied or depicted sex. The violence can be scary, especially when aliens attack, but it avoids people shooting indiscriminately at innocent people.
The story is less satisfying than its heroes. The plot can feel mundane, some transitions leave questions unanswered, and the ending is anti-climactic. Still, older children and adults who can handle the frightening material should find this an exciting trip.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESFBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate strange and threatening incidents through the bureau’s X-Files. After a bombing in Dallas, they uncover clues pointing to a secret conspiracy involving powerful government insiders, businessmen, and a mysterious alien presence.
As Mulder and Scully pursue the truth, they must also fight to keep their investigation alive—and to keep each other alive.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means a good, exciting film with real strengths but noticeable weaknesses. The movie’s greatest asset is its central partnership. Duchovny and Anderson play compelling, sincere heroes who work well together, making us care about their success as they confront conspirators, FBI colleagues, and dangerous alien attacks.
The film is also deliciously imagined and effectively creepy. But its conspiracy plot is surprisingly mundane, and the story sometimes leaps from one sequence to another. The ending leaves questions unanswered and includes barely visible alien monsters in an anti-climactic action sequence. It remains an exciting thriller, though not a fully satisfying one.
The Worldview
THE X-FILES presents a moderately strong moral worldview of good heroes battling evil conspirators. It takes a solid stand for goodness, truth, liberty, and self-sacrifice. Twice, the film makes the point that if people stop fighting for truth and freedom, evil wins.
The movie does contain minor humanist and evolution elements connected to its science-fiction aliens. Its aliens and UFOs are presented as science-fiction fantasy, not as supernatural or demonic forces. The film’s conspirators selfishly seek power and plan to use people as hosts for an alien parasite, while the heroes resist them.
At the center is a belief that truth must be defended and that good people cannot simply stand aside. Jesus said, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Moderately strong moral worldview of good versus evil & heroes battling globalists conspirators with humanist, evolution elements regarding science fiction aliens; 8 obscenities, 4 profanities & 1 Oh, God!, nearly all exclamatory; moderate action violence -- alien attacks two cavemen, alien attacks scientist, aliens try to grab heroes, man grazes other man's head with gunshot, man shoots driver, one murder off screen, bomb explodes in car, killing one man, & brief shots of corpses destroyed by aliens; no sex; no nudity except for a reference to off-screen natural nudity; and, men selfishly conspire to enslave humans & use people as hosts for alien parasite.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Mulder and Scully keep pursuing truth when powerful people want it hidden. When is it right to speak up, and how can you do so wisely?
John 8:31–32 · Ephesians 5:11The movie presents good heroes battling evil conspirators. What does Scripture say about resisting evil without becoming consumed by it?
Romans 12:21 · 1 Peter 3:15–16The film values liberty and self-sacrifice. How does Jesus define true freedom, and what does love require us to sacrifice for others?
John 8:36 · John 15:13The Final Word
THE X-FILES is an exciting, creepy thriller with sincere heroes and a strong moral center. Its plot is less satisfying, and its alien attacks may frighten younger viewers. For older children and adults, the answer is WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER CHILDREN & ADULTS.
