Unusual. There's a lot to like here, but there's something a little "off" about the whole thing, with a script that feels rushed, few insights into the bigger picture at work, and a storyline that travels in varying different directions. It's a mess of an episode, but still a pretty fun mess.I loved all the scenes with the technology speaking to people. Sure, the Mark Snow synth booms got a little redundant every time the camera cut into one of those "KILL 'EM ALL" shots, but each one of those scenes was ridiculously effective, in particular the moment with the housewife getting her car fixed. Turning the scene unexpectedly on its head, it's the woman who goes apeshit, the messages telling her "HE'LL RAPE YOU". William Sanderson is also great as the guest star we follow throughout the episode (a gimmick repeated again in episodes like season seven's Hungry) his repeated shrieks creepily effective. And the last moment, with Mulder reading the "ALL DONE BYE BYE" message, is chilling.
But the story falls apart as the episode runs, building to a disappointing clock-tower-shooting conclusion, an easy get-out-of-jail-free-card for the guys behind the mass experiment, and Mulder and Scully seemingly out in the field and working together without any kind of repercussions. So while the "juice" of the episode is awesome, the "pulp" is lacking. Rating B-
Credits
Guest stars William Sanderson (Edward Funsch); John Cygan (Sheriff Spencer); Kimberly Ashlyn Gere (Bonnie McRoberts); George Touliatos (Larry Winter)
Teleplay Glen Morgan, James Wong Story Darin Morgan Director David Nutter
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