Having rewatched The X-Files during lockdown for the first time since its original airing when I was far too young to watch it – this probably goes along way to explain my love of all things creepy! I am officially an X-Phile. I have compiled a list of the creepiest, scariest and grossest episodes for your binge-watching pleasure.
Home – Season 4, Episode 2
“Home” follows Mulder and Scully as they investigate the discovery of a deformed baby’s corpse in a small town. Their investigation leads them to the Peacock family, a group of isolated and possibly inbred brothers living in a dilapidated house. As the agents dig deeper, they uncover a horrifying truth
Chinga Season 5, Episode 10
Co-written by Stephen King, “Chinga,” sees Scully stumble upon a bizarre case while on holiday. People in a supermarket mysteriously injure themselves, and a young girl named Polly seems to be at the center of it. Scully discovers that Polly carries a creepy doll named Chinga, and those who displease Polly or her mother Melissa suffer gruesome fates
Squeeze Season 1, Episode 3
“Squeeze” follows a series of murders where the victims’ livers are mysteriously removed. Mulder suspects the culprit, Eugene Tooms, is a mutant who can contort his body and hibernates for extended periods after consuming livers. In a race against time, Mulder and Scully try to stop Tooms before he claims another victim. The episode ends with Tooms institutionalised, but hinting at his potential to escape again.
Badlaa Season 8, Episode 10
Scully investigates a baffling murder where a seemingly ordinary beggar appears to be responsible. The beggar, a powerful mystic with the ability to drain blood and possess bodies, seeks revenge on a man connected to a deadly gas leak in India. Scully struggles to unravel the case using conventional methods but eventually learns about Siddhi mystics with extraordinary powers.
Familiar Season 11, Episode 8
After a child is found murdered in the woods, Mulder and Scully investigate and discovers a connection to a creepy children’s show character, Mr. Chuckleteeth. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of infidelity, revenge, and witchcraft. A vengeful wife accidentally summons a deadly demon that takes the form of Mr. Chuckleteeth and goes on a killing spree
Sanguinarium Season 4, Episode 6
In a chilling tale of medical malpractice and dark magic, a series of patients die during botched cosmetic surgeries. While a possessed surgeon and a witch are initially suspects, Mulder uncovers a web of clues pointing to Dr. Franklin. Franklin, obsessed with eternal youth, is actually a disguised former doctor who uses witchcraft to commit the murders and even eliminate those who get close to the truth, leaving the episode with the unsettling implication that his murderous spree will continue at a new hospital.
Darkness Falls Season 1, Episode 20
Mulder and Scully investigate the disappearance of loggers in a national forest. They find a deserted camp and a creepy cocoon, then learn from an eco-terrorist about a deadly swarm of insects activated by cutting down an old-growth tree. Despite mistrusting the eco-terrorist, they become trapped in the cabin with dwindling resources as nightfall brings the deadly insects. They escape in a stolen Jeep but encounter more booby traps and are eventually attacked by the insects, leaving their fate uncertain as scientists attempt to eradicate the swarm.
Ice Season 1, Episode 8
In a remote Alaskan research outpost, a team of scientists is found dead in an apparent murder-suicide. Scully and Mulder investigate and are attacked by a mysterious dog with strange bumps, and one scientist dies with similar bumps. An ancient worm-like parasite from an ice core is found to be the culprit, driving the infected to violence. Scully wants to destroy the remaining worms, while Mulder wants to study them. The remaining scientists turn on each other as they discover the worms kill each other within a single host. Through a tense series of events, they identify the true culprit and use the remaining worm as a cure. The government destroys the site to prevent further outbreak.
Unruhe Season 4, Episode 4
A series of kidnappings take place where the victims are lobotomised. The only clue is a strange photo taken at the first scene, showing the victim screaming in a distorted background. Scully and Mulder investigate, with Mulder suspecting a psychic photographer is behind it. Through analysis of the photos, they discover the kidnapper is a very tall man and identify a construction worker who uses stilts as the culprit. The man believes he’s rescuing his victims from evil spirits and the photos capture his own disturbed mental state. He escapes custody and goes after Scully, but Mulder intervenes and saves her.
The Host Season 2, Episode 2
A strange death on a Russian ship leads Mulder to investigate a half-eaten body found in the sewers. Scully discovers a parasite inside the body and a sanitation worker is later attacked by an unseen creature. Mulder uncovers a mutant fluke-man living in the sewage system, possibly created from radioactive waste. He believes the X-Files were shut down to cover this up. The Flukeman escapes transport and returns to the sewers, but is seemingly killed by Mulder. The episode ends with a hint that the creature might still be alive.
Grotesque Season 3, Episode 14
An artist brutally murders men while claiming a demonic gargoyle is possessing him. The FBI is called in, with Scully and Mulder assigned to the case. Another murder occurs while the suspect is already in custody, fueling Mulder’s belief in the possession theory. They discover the artist has a hidden room filled with gargoyle sculptures containing victims’ bodies. As more people are attacked, Mulder himself becomes a target and the lines between reality and delusion blur. It’s eventually revealed that a fellow agent, Patterson, is the real killer, driven insane by his obsession with the case and a desire to understand the killer’s mindset. The episode ends with Patterson imprisoned and seemingly innocent, while Mulder ponders the possibility of a supernatural element despite capturing the human culprit.
Oubliette Season 3, Episode 8
A teenage girl is kidnapped and the FBI investigates. A lead comes from another woman who was abducted as a child, and the agents discover a strange psychic link between the two. While they race to save the missing girl, it’s revealed the rescued woman is somehow connected to the kidnapper and sacrifices herself to save the teenager. The episode explores themes of trauma and the enduring effects of past abuse.
Die hand Die verletzt Season 2, Episode 14
In a shocking twist, a seemingly upstanding teacher in a conservative town is revealed to be a secret Satanist leading a group that abuses students. The townspeople blame demonic forces unleashed by teenagers for a series of strange events, but Scully and Mulder uncover a darker truth. The teacher is behind the murders and uses dark magic to eliminate those who get close to the truth. The episode ends with the teacher seemingly escaping after manipulating the remaining Satanists into killing themselves.
Shapes Season 1, Episode 19
In a chilling exploration of Native American legends and government cover-ups, Scully and Mulder investigate the death of a man on disputed land. The local ranchers claim a monstrous animal is responsible, while the victim’s tribe suspects something more sinister. Evidence, including human-like animal tracks and shed skin, point towards a creature that can shapeshift. The investigation is further complicated by the FBI’s past actions against the local tribe. Ultimately, a local rancher is killed by the creature, which is revealed to be a manitou, a shapeshifting spirit that can pass between hosts. The episode ends with the creature seemingly killed, but a cryptic warning suggests it may return.
Folie a deux Season 5, Episode 19
A paranoid telemarketer believes his boss is a monstrous insect that can control people. The FBI is called in to investigate and initially dismisses the claims as a delusional episode. However, strange events unfold, including a co-worker turning into a living corpse. The situation escalates into a hostage situation, with the telemarketer convinced the “real” people need to be protected from the “monsters.” The FBI intervenes and kills the telemarketer, but Scully later discovers evidence that the boss might actually be the monster the telemarketer described. The episode ends with Scully saving Mulder from the creature and both of them questioning what they believe is real.
