The List
- Episode aired Oct 20, 1995
- TV-14
- 45m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.4K
YOUR RATING
Enemies of a prison inmate who was executed in the electric chair begin dying one by one.Enemies of a prison inmate who was executed in the electric chair begin dying one by one.Enemies of a prison inmate who was executed in the electric chair begin dying one by one.
Craig Bruhnanski
- Guard
- (as Craig Brunanski)
Mig Macario
- Tattooed Prisoner
- (uncredited)
Don MacKay
- Oates
- (uncredited)
Bruce Pinard
- Executioner
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaReal maggots were used in the shooting of some scenes, much to Gillian Anderson's displeasure.
- GoofsWhen Mulder and Scully are walking into the executioner's house, in the room to right of the main door, you can see a person sitting and going through papers.
- Quotes
Sammom Roque: How does it feel to be on death row, Warden?
- ConnectionsReferenced in Cult Legends and Rising Stars: Cult Legends: Bokeem Woodbine (2016)
Featured review
"Howz it feel to be on death row warden?" Season 3 thriller!
The list is one of the best episodes of season 3 possibly the best season in X files history.
It tells the story of Napoleon Neech Manley a man on death row convicted under dubious circumstances of double murder. Its clear Neech is a powerful is only influential man within the prison and much anticipation and perhaps fear surrounds his execution. As he is taken to the electric chair he vows to seek revenge in a decidedly cold manner on five men that have wronged him.
Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate when a death row guard is found dead in the cell Neech used to occupy. Apparently the guard appears to have been strangled. Mulder interviews John Speranza a prison inmate who explains the power behind Neeches claims "The man was electric pure energy!" Even going so far as to say he witnessed Neech walk past his cell.
Characteristically Mulder finds the idea of Neech actually returning for revenge from beyond the grave enthralling, Scully who brilliantly by Gillian Anderson is portrayed as being uncomfortable in a male prison environment and the warden delivered with cold hypocrisy by classic on screen villain J.T Walsh are less convinced of Neeches claims.
There is much conspiring taking place throughout the episode, the warden coldly murders inmates who may be part of Neeches murders, Scully suspects a conspiracy not of inmates but of guards involving Parmelly (Ken Foree), a black prison guard who is shacking up with Neeches wife.
As More dead bodies begin to surface including some decidedly shocking images of decomposing bodies infested with maggots and beheaded corpses being placed in offices, Mulder fails in his attempt to piece together much evidence or explanation for events but is desperate to engage with the notion of reincarnation.
Chris Carter gives only his second directorial effort and succeeds in creating a most oppressive prison environment, the dark nature of the cell blocks where the murders are taking place serves as stark contrast to the strange settling sun that often occupies any action outside the prison.
The best things in this episode are the performances by some of the supporting cast, Ken Foree is suitably edgy and defencive over the matter, J.T Walsh's performance is dripping with hypocrisy something of a more violent albeit less impressive version of Bob Guntons Samuel Norton in the shawshank redemption.
On the negative the list lacks some punch for much of the third act, there is some rushed dialogue and most importantly the plot doesn't have much emotional bearing on either Mulder or Scully.
On a whole the list is a very good episode of the x files much maligned by critics it still serves consistent tension and dark atmosphere, along with one of the best actual stories of the third season. Given the subject matter it could have been one of the very very best of the shows stand alones, but still serves as a well played out dark thriller. Some people will be turned off by the lack of actual events pertaining to Neeches return whenever he is seen it is quickly shown that the character perceiving him could have been mistaken. But the X files often serves up most chills when this is the case and the final scene is in my estimation very well placed, we have Mulder and Scully both in their own frustrated ways admitting defeat in proving little, and then amidst this J.T Walsh finally meets his comeuppance the actual action could have been perfect if we had not even seen Neech Manley but just been given an implication that a glimpse of his was caught by the warden this questionable fault is made up for though by nice camera work to pan over the wardens corpse with eerier music showing that no one is in fact there with the warden at all.
This X files episode is clearly underrated and for story and creation alone should be appreciated.
It tells the story of Napoleon Neech Manley a man on death row convicted under dubious circumstances of double murder. Its clear Neech is a powerful is only influential man within the prison and much anticipation and perhaps fear surrounds his execution. As he is taken to the electric chair he vows to seek revenge in a decidedly cold manner on five men that have wronged him.
Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate when a death row guard is found dead in the cell Neech used to occupy. Apparently the guard appears to have been strangled. Mulder interviews John Speranza a prison inmate who explains the power behind Neeches claims "The man was electric pure energy!" Even going so far as to say he witnessed Neech walk past his cell.
Characteristically Mulder finds the idea of Neech actually returning for revenge from beyond the grave enthralling, Scully who brilliantly by Gillian Anderson is portrayed as being uncomfortable in a male prison environment and the warden delivered with cold hypocrisy by classic on screen villain J.T Walsh are less convinced of Neeches claims.
There is much conspiring taking place throughout the episode, the warden coldly murders inmates who may be part of Neeches murders, Scully suspects a conspiracy not of inmates but of guards involving Parmelly (Ken Foree), a black prison guard who is shacking up with Neeches wife.
As More dead bodies begin to surface including some decidedly shocking images of decomposing bodies infested with maggots and beheaded corpses being placed in offices, Mulder fails in his attempt to piece together much evidence or explanation for events but is desperate to engage with the notion of reincarnation.
Chris Carter gives only his second directorial effort and succeeds in creating a most oppressive prison environment, the dark nature of the cell blocks where the murders are taking place serves as stark contrast to the strange settling sun that often occupies any action outside the prison.
The best things in this episode are the performances by some of the supporting cast, Ken Foree is suitably edgy and defencive over the matter, J.T Walsh's performance is dripping with hypocrisy something of a more violent albeit less impressive version of Bob Guntons Samuel Norton in the shawshank redemption.
On the negative the list lacks some punch for much of the third act, there is some rushed dialogue and most importantly the plot doesn't have much emotional bearing on either Mulder or Scully.
On a whole the list is a very good episode of the x files much maligned by critics it still serves consistent tension and dark atmosphere, along with one of the best actual stories of the third season. Given the subject matter it could have been one of the very very best of the shows stand alones, but still serves as a well played out dark thriller. Some people will be turned off by the lack of actual events pertaining to Neeches return whenever he is seen it is quickly shown that the character perceiving him could have been mistaken. But the X files often serves up most chills when this is the case and the final scene is in my estimation very well placed, we have Mulder and Scully both in their own frustrated ways admitting defeat in proving little, and then amidst this J.T Walsh finally meets his comeuppance the actual action could have been perfect if we had not even seen Neech Manley but just been given an implication that a glimpse of his was caught by the warden this questionable fault is made up for though by nice camera work to pan over the wardens corpse with eerier music showing that no one is in fact there with the warden at all.
This X files episode is clearly underrated and for story and creation alone should be appreciated.
helpful•214
- Dorian-Kellaway
- Dec 6, 2006
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