"The X Files"
Scary Monsters (2002)

Director:

Dwight H. Little

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator)
Thomas Schnauz (written by)

TV Series:

"The X Files" (1993)

Original Air Date:

14 April 2002 (Season 9, Episode 14)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Reyes and Doggett, with the aid of a young Mulder-worshiping FBI agent, investigate a father who is exhibiting bizarre behavior regarding his son who he has kept hidden from the outside world. |

Plot Keywords:

Female FBI Agent | FBI Agent | Male Female Relationship | Cult | Glock

Cast

Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Robert Patrick	...	John Doggett
Annabeth Gish	...	Monica Reyes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Beckwith	...	FBI Cadet
Gavin Fink	...	Tommy Conlon
Jolie Jenkins	...	FBI Agent Leyla Harrison
Scott Paulin	...	Jeffrey Conlon
Brian Poth	...	Gabe Rotter
Steve Ryan	...	Sheriff Jack Coogan

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Trivia:

The character Leyla Harrison, who appeared in episodes #8.19, "Alone" and #9.14, Scary Monsters was named after a writer of "The X Files" (1993) Internet fan fiction who died of cancer in February 2001. The fictional Leyla Harrison was a fan of Mulder's and Scully's, having spent her time in the FBI poring over their expense reports (in much the same way that Internet fans of the show examined the minute nuances of every episode), so the tribute was very appropriate.

Quotes:

FBI Agent Leyla Harrison: Agent Mulder wasted no time closing that case. I just try to think like him. What would Agents Mulder and Scully do if they were in this situation?
John Doggett: Agents Mulder and Scully aren't in this situation. Agents Doggett and Reyes are. I don't know about Agent Reyes, but Agent Doggett's going to sit his tired ass down.

Unless you bring me Spanky, there's nothing I can do.

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Scary Monsters features the return of the cute and lovable, Mulder and Scully groupie, Agent Leyla Harrison. We last saw Harrison in season eight's 'Alone' working with Agent Doggett. I thoroughly enjoyed her character the first time around, and was pleased to see her return.

The teaser for Scary Monsters grabs your attention right away when you see the dad lock the boy in his room, apparently with monster bugs. Why is he doing that? We come to find out later that the dad really has no idea what is going on. He believes that everything is real.

The blood spurting through the air vents in the car was a cool, gross scene. The location and setting were well done as well.

Scully's apron is a nice little joke. It says, "SOMETHING SMELLS GOO-OOD!", while she is doing an autopsy on a Spanky the cat. Nice contrast.

I liked how Doggett pulls a 'Leyla Harrison' and suggests an idea from a previous Mulder and Scully case, this one being 'Field Trip', to explain what is happening. He quickly discards it though.

As is rare on the X-Files, Doggett's disbelief in the paranormal actually saves his and everyone else's lives in this case.

I found it interesting when the dad says that Tommy doesn't mean to do what he does, and Reyes responds that he certainly does mean to make the monsters appear, as illustrated by his morbid drawings. What I don't get about this explanation is that Tommy's mother killed herself because of these monsters. Did he want his mom to die? It seems to make his actions a bit inconsistent.

Scary Monsters is a good, solid Monster of the Week episode that has a nice mixture of comedy and terror. I like seeing Agent Harrison once again voicing the sentiments of the fans and getting the agents in over their heads. When you're watching this episode, just remember that "it's not real".