"The X Files"
Soft Light (1995)

Director:

James A. Contner

Writers:

Chris Carter (creator)
Vince Gilligan (written by)

TV Series:

"The X Files" (1993)

Original Air Date:

5 May 1995 (Season 2, Episode 23)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

Three deaths have occurred around Richmond, Virginia. The only traces which each of the victims seem...

Plot Keywords:

Richmond Virginia | Title Spoken By Character | Female FBI Agent | FBI Agent | Male Female Relationship

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson	...	Dana Scully
Tony Shalhoub	...	Dr. Chester Ray Banton
Kate Twa	...	Kelly Ryan
Kevin McNulty	...	Dr. Christopher Davey
Steven Williams	...	Mr. X
Nathaniel DeVeaux	...	Detective Barron
Robert Rozen	...	Doctor
Donna Yamamoto	...	Night Nurse
Forbes Angus	...	The Government Scientist
Guyle Fraizer	...	Officer #1
Steve Bacic	...	Officer #2
Craig Bruhnanski	...	Security Guard (as Craig Brunanski)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company:

20th Century Fox Television

Goofs:

Factual errors: Zooming in on Dr. Chester Banton's jacket on the security tape shows frames of impossible angles from the original tape.

Quotes:

Scully: There's no sign of him, Mulder. Maybe he's moved on. What are you looking at?
Mulder: On the videotape, Dr. Banton kept staring at the floor. I've been trying to figure out what he might have been looking at.
Scully: Well, maybe the exposure affected his mind. Nonsensical repetitive behavior is a common trait of mental illness.
Mulder: You trying to tell me something?

Talk About Being Afraid Of Your Own Shadow

Soft Light is a mixed bag for me. I think the concept of having a deadly shadow is interesting and fun. At the same time, I think it's too ludicrous of an idea to take seriously. In the end though, the first point wins out and I can say I enjoy the episode. It may lose a couple of points because of it being too fantastic of an idea. Also, they never explain what Dr. Banton's connection with Margaret Wysnecki is. Mulder finds an Amtrak train ticket in her garbage to coincidentally lead them to the train station, but that's it. Why was Dr. Banton in her house? That aside, Tony Shalhoub does a fine performance as Dr. Chester Ray Banton. X makes an appearance as well. His actions in this episode make you wonder on what and/or whose agenda is he? When the agents discover that all exits are locked from the inside, a subtle reference to 'Squeeze' is made, which is a bonus. This episode has some good Mulder/Scully dialog; always a plus. The special effect of people being killed by the shadow is a bit cheesy. Though for a TV budget, it's probably considered to be good. In summary, if you suspend your belief a little higher than usual for an X-Files episode, you'll enjoy Soft Light.